Our entire family waited for the Olympics to start, and we watched every night. Momma popped a huge skillet of popcorn, slightly burned because that’s how Daddy liked it, and we ate in front of the television. Another night we had chocolate pudding in individual bowls because that was Daddy’s favorite dessert.
A Romanian girl named Nadia Comaneci dominated. We were the same age…
Oh, to be a perfect 10.
At anything.
“Why can’t y’all do that?” Daddy chuckled half teasing, half not. Nadia flipped and flipped along the four-inch balance beam and soared overhead, landing back on Earth as gracefully as a ballerina.
“Probably the same reason you can’t win gold in the decathlon like Bruce Jenner.”
Momma spewed Tab out her nose.
“I guess so,” Daddy said.
For fifteen nights, we witnessed greatness as we held our breath and cheered together. During the day, my sister and I pretended to be Nadia while we practiced our feeble cartwheels in the front yard and balanced along a piece of plywood we found behind the pump house. We located Romania on our globe and read about it in the encyclopedia. Nadia was the closest thing we’d ever seen to a real live Tinkerbell.
That was then, but even now, when the world feels smaller and being impressed takes a new sort of specialness, I still love love love watching the Olympics. And I’ll watch most any event. I get a lump in my throat when I hear the National Anthem and see the American flag raise.
Lucy and Annabelle have gotten into the spirit as well.
Yesterday afternoon, to burn off a little excitement before the main events, we had our own Dog Olympics. They excelled in ball fetching, tug-of-war, and extreme barking.
And if cleaning their bowls should ever become an official olympic sport, they’d medal for sure.
The 2016 Olympics so far? Highlights for me (and it’s early yet)…
How about Katie Ledecky?? She is the boss.
Michael Phelps is a dolphin, and as of today, he’s the most decorated Olympian EVER with 19 golds.
Synchronized Diving? I’d have to give all the teams perfect scores.
U.S. Gymnastics – Men and Women. So incredible!
U.S. Beach Volleyball. Oh Em Gee.
U.S. Fencing – I love Ibtihaj Muhammad’s story.
What’s your favorite? Yes, you can vote for Lucy and Annabelle.
Grace Grits and Gardening
Farm. Food. Garden. Life.
[tweetthis]Olympic Memories, then and now @Olympics #GoldinUS #Rio2016 #swimming [/tweetthis]
Musical Pairing:
Katy Perry, Rise
I remember Nadia. I’m not a big sports fan, but one has to love the Olympics. I agree about women’s volley ball and Katie. Divers should win something for being brave enough to climb that tower! Maybe a “participation” trophy.
Dot, I don’t think I could even stand on the edge of the board the way they do, on their tip toes, waiting and waiting to dive at just the right instant. So amazing to me.
Go U.S.A. Great post and I vote for Lucy and Annabelle!
L & A said, “We aren’t worthy!”
Talya, you are a perfect 10! Just ask Gracie Lee!
Oh, I don’t know about that Ken, but thank you!
I too love, love, love the Olympics. My favorite is women’s gymnastics, sand volleyball, both sexes, and Machael and Katie are fenomanal. Those volleyball people are so tall. The long bike ride wore me out Sunday, and I just couldn’t get into the rugby games, but I still watched. Who knew you could pick up your teammate so they could better catch an incoming ball. Wow!
I do get teary-eyed when I hear the National Anthem and see the Americam flag raised high above……
I give Annabelle and Lucy a perfect 10!!
I enjoyed this read, love the olympics, feel the same way you do when they raise our flag and I like my popcorn slightly burnt also…
I thought the slightly burnt popcorn was just a thing at our house!
Excellence blog. We (too) loved the Olympics. The first gymnast I recall was Olga Korbut, before Nadia’s time. But loved Nadia too, and Mary Lou Rettin and Kerri Scruggs – both who landed their vaults on one foot due to injuries. And Michael has won one more (making it 20 now) just since you wrote this! Love all the sports but especially gymnastics, swimming, diving, and track and field. There are several Arkansans doing the pole vaulting this year. ?
I think there are 18 Razorbacks in the Olympics. And several Baylor Bears too. Yay.
We’ve always watched the Olympics, too. Gymnastics is my favorite. I remember Nadia. A sweet memory is of my oldest granddaughter pretending to do a balance beam routine when she was four after watching the USA women’s team. They sure rocked last night, as did Michael Phelps and Katy. Hope Lucy and Annabelle win gold!
Congratulations Talya, you were born to do this. We are so proud of you.
Thanks for the fun Olympics memories, which brought back ones of my own!
You’re welcome!