The Olympics: Closing Remarks

They are random and short, much like the Olympics themselves.

(Oh, I'm sorry. Do you differ with me on this? Would you like to argue that it's not random to include curling 'athletes' in the same games as distant speed skaters? Or that rifle shooting should be coupled with, say, cross country skiing?)

1. That little Swiss boy who jumps off of mountains, flies a lot farther than anyone else, and then lands properly is too cute. I loved to see him celebrate. He leaped onto that gold medal platform with a holler! And then he told the reporter he intended to "Celebrate long."

I'd have liked to have been in the Olympic Village for that party. He looked like he was out to have fun.

2. Speaking of gold, I remember thinking as a child that if you didn't win gold, you lost. Now I really appreciate what it means for an athlete to medal.

3. Also about gold, I tuned into Yuna Kim's medal ceremony just so I could hear the Korean anthem. At the movie theater on base, they played the Korean anthem (and then the American anthem) before every show. I wondered what memories it would bring back to hear it. Answer: Not too many.

4. But I do recall that Koreans write their family names first. Hence the phrase "Kim Yuna." That's fine. What annoyed was the announcers referring to her as "Kim Yuna" every time, as though they were unsure which name was which.

Hmm. Kim Yuna in figure skating. Park Sung He in short track. And in other sports. . .we see. . .a few other Kims and Parks. . . hmmm. . . how unusual that Olympic athletes from Korea tend to have parents who name their children "Kim" and "Park". . .

5. Shawn White, snowboard king.

I have to come down on this sport as well. Seems to be there just for TV ratings. Notable about this fellow is that, while all others were wearing ski suits, he wore jeans and a flannel shirt.

Rock on, buddy.

6. Ariel ski jumping. What? How do you even practice for this sport?

7. Finally, a moment that reflects on me quite poorly:

We had a lovely Spring day last week, and I sat outside with Mrs. Colorado and the mother of my other neighbor (who had the surgery, which went well--thank you for your prayers). We chatted about the Olympics.

I remarked, "There was a shot of Peggy Flemming. She has not aged well." It was shocking, really. She looked terribly gaunt and hallow.

The Mom said, "Yes. Well. She's been sick."

This made me feel bad. "Oh, shame on me. Sick with what? Do you know?"

"Uh. . . yep. It's cancer."

"Oh, my." Long pause. I knew what was coming. But I asked anyway. "What kind?"

"Breast cancer."

Right. Of course.

A Gold Medal performance in gymnastics, ladies and gentlemen. The kind where the athlete chews on her own foot.