Reason #22 - The Olympics

   Sorry I have been slacking on posting. I have been a tad distracted lately. I wish I could say that I've been really productive - that I've been busy working or cleaning or getting ready for college. But none of those are the case. No, I have been watching the Olympics non-stop. It's kind of bad. I just veg out in front of the TV all day. During the times where there are no events on, I go on the internet and read about the athletes, then I watch the events that I didn't get to see earlier on Primetime. Let's just say if keeping up with all things Olympic where a sport, I would get the gold medal. I guess you could call it an obsession, but I like to think of it as dedication. I just love the unity and patriotism that go along with it. It makes me so happy!  Plus the Olympics are only every 2 years, so I am fine dedicating 2 weeks to them.

   I would say my love for the Olympics started in Salt Lake City in 2002. I happened to live there at that time and they happened to start on my 7th birthday that year. It was such an exciting time. There was so much hype and this was all pretty new to me. My mom made Olympic ring cupcakes to share with my 1st grade class and after school my dad took my sister and I to see the running of the Olympic torch. I loved all the traditions and I eagerly watched the Opening Ceremonies that night. You could see the Olympic rings from my house and it all felt really special.

   In the mall a lot of pin trading and selling was going on. My mom got me a mascot hat and some really cool pins. One of the vendors even gave me a special pin because it was my birthday. I thought it was so cool how people made pin collecting their hobby and there were some that were really rare and worth a lot. It was all so exciting.

   Everything got a lot more exciting when my grandma surprised my mom, sister, and me with tickets to go see figure skating. It was so much fun. Charley and I got little American flags and we would wave them around and cheer for the US, even when it was a foreign skating. I got to see my favorite Olympians, Michelle Kwan and Sarah Hues. After watching them I knew I wanted to take up skating, so I made several trips to the ice rink after that. Unfortunately I never got a chance to live out that dream, but I still have a love for the Olympics anyway. That experience is something that I will always cherish. I hope to make it back someday.