Tuesday, July 08, 2008

I don't think my Dad would go to Beijing, even if I were in the Olympics

When I was a chunky little gymnast ("sturdy" was a word I frequently heard used to describe my nine-year old build), I remember teasing my Dad about his reluctance to come see me do my tumbles and spins. "Don't be silly," he replied one day with a big smile. "Of course I'll come and see you...when you're in the Olympics, and the Olympics are in Maine..."

Assuming this would happen in my lifetime (and why not? Just because the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders don't hold auditions in my home state, that's no reason to believe that the Olympic Committee would overlook us), I set about practicing with renewed vigor.

I think about this now, as I imagine the parents of this summer's Olympians. Are any of them asking, "Seriously--Beijing? You couldn't have waited four more years so we could all go to London???" Now don't get me wrong--I imagine a visit to China would be life-altering in more ways that I have space to mention here. But to combine that with the single biggest athletic competition of your child's life? Sounds kind of stressful to me.

But back to my Dad, who is retired now and thus has time to travel:

If you were in the Olympics, and they were held in YOUR home state, where would my Dad need to go? What would your event be?

19 comments:

Beck said...

Ha! A lot of my relatives are Chinese and go to China EVERY YEAR! Once you get around the rigamorole, it's just a place.

And if the Olympics were here? They'd probably be held in Toronto, that being the Big Deal City, although they might be in Ottawa. My sport would be Championship Couch Sitting or Speed Reading.

Stephanie Kartalopoulos said...

Though I was born in Ohio, my family moved to NJ when I was two, so that would be where the Olympics would be. So your dad would have to take a break from Maine's blueberry picking season and come down to NJ for summer Olympics and NJ's blueberry picking season.

And my sport? Hmm, I guess I need to let my Super Dork Freak Flag colors fly and represent:

reading.

That is my sport. Not speed reading, but intense, focused, fall-so-in-love-that-the-world-melts-away reading. The kind of reading that can be judged by how long it takes to tear someone away from her book. :) Or, rather, how long it takes to convince someone to be social at lunch time instead of bury her face in a book. :)

Anonymous said...

The Olympics were held in Utah. I wasn't in them. There was no awesomeness category. I went to see the torch. I didn't go to the actual Olympics because I was a broke college student & just reasoned that I'd see them the next time they came to Utah. Yeah Right.

Anonymous said...

Ditto on Sarakastic, Utah Olympics, 2002...good times. I actually did "participate"...I was "security" at the medals plaza. All concerts, all the time. It was awesome. :o)

xox

mslizalou said...

They would have to travel to Tennessee. I would love to say gymnastics, but I'll also go with reading as my sport. I did gymnastics until I was 10 and played softball until I was 11, but reading is my favorite sport...unless you count walking on the treadmill.

L Sass said...

Obviously, my event would be figure skating! I think having the Olympics in Minnesota would be fun. Your dad could shop til he drops at the Mall of America, drink a cold Summit beer on Minneapolis's Nicollet Mall and go jump in one of our many lakes (probably not if it's a Winter Olympics, though!)

Unknown said...

definitely swimming! I would (in my dreams) kick major butt doing the butterfly stroke. I swam on teams from when I was five throughout high school and a little in college. My favorite stroke was butterfly because it is the hardest.....I was a cocky little thing! ha!!

Only One Heidi said...

i ran the 100m High Hurdles for five years in middle school/high school. Wish i had continued on but my legs were too short :(

I'd love to run though in the olympics - if they were someplace cool like NYC or Boston or you know...Burlington, VT ;)

Alyssa Goodnight said...

That quote from your dad sounds EXACTLY like something my own dad would have said.

And if I could pick a sport to be good at, I'd go for Swimming. Sadly though, I don't have the skills. Maybe 'Arguing Till the Bitter End'...

j said...

I concur with the locations ISass already mentioned. Also, if it's winter, he could go ice fishing in one of our many lake/ponds if he's into that kind of thing. I for one am not as freezing my butt off sitting on a lake does not seem like a good time, but other people seem to like it.

I'd have to compete in something a little bit ridiculous and fun like synchronized swimming. I better start practicing holding my breath.

hckygrl said...

Iowa, the Olympics would be in Iowa City, Iowa. Go Hawkeyes!

My sport would be the balance beam in my younger days, ice hockey now. Unless, cooking comfort food would be added to the Midwest venue then I may seriously be a gold medal contender!

Rachel H. said...

The Olympics were here, and I hope they don't come back. My sport would be typing. I think I'm fast, and I could win. Haha!

Gretchen said...

My home state would be Pennsylvania. My event would be kitchen-floor ice skating with slippery socks.

Allie said...

The Olympics in Christchurch, New Zealand? I'm doubtful. Although we did have a Commonwealth Games in the 70s...

My event... hmmm... something silly like walking. Or bowls. If I were actually any good at sports, I'd pick rowing though. On the other hand, the one event you'd never catch me doing - pole vaulting.

Jen A. Miller said...

New Jersey. Upcake toss.

xxxx said...

Lately, complaining :) Otherwise, Pop Culture trivia. That would be awesome!

Katie said...

St. Louis, MO!! And I can't believe no one else has said this yet, but: SHOPPING!!! But, not just the kind at the mall...I was a great at-home player of Supermarket Sweep!!! :)

Colleen said...

Georgia. Cornhole toss.

I know it's not southern, but I picked that one up living in Chicago.

LEstes65 said...

Your dad would have to travel to...good grief...where am I from? I live in Texas. I feel like Boston is my home town. I was born in San Francisco. I was raised most of my childhood in Connecticut.

My event? Well, until they make singing an Olympic event, I don't have a chance at medals of any kind.