Our city is hosting, and it is pretty awesome. I am a bit stunned by how interested in this stuff I have gotten! For the first time in my life I am almost fighting John for the sports page and sitting on the edge of my seat at night, watching Track and Field on TV. I have my favorites to be rooting for soon in Beijing (Goucher, Smith, Symmonds, Howard, and more) The difference, for me, is knowing the personal story. The media here, and especially Bob Welch, have done a great job in getting the back story. Once I learn about the athlete's relationships, their obstacles, the challenges they've met...well suddenly I kind of love them and really want to see them win!
When Symmonds jumped a fence to hug his Mom after winning the 800? And he told the camera that his parents bought tickets to China 6 months ago because they believed in him so much? Oh man, so beautiful. (oh. yeah. I was sniffling.) It all ends Sunday so we had to go down there today and just walk around to absorb a little of this history-in-the-making.
It was muggy today and the water spray was a hit. Although from the looks on their faces you might wonder if they are really enjoying this? I can assure you the mist was welcome, it was the Mom. taking another picture. that just seems to set their jaws into perma-fake-smile-mode.
John agreed, if we are blessed to be here in 2012 for the next one, we will make sure and get real tickets. It wasn't in the budget this year, besides I didn't know I would be this interested! It was very thoughtful how the organizers set up giant screens for us locals to watch, and had things for children and families to enjoy. Plus you could hang onto the metal Hayward Field fence and crane your neck to see glimpses of the athletes. However, when the crowd roared it made you go "oh man! What'd we miss?!"
(oh and don't bother scanning this photo for us, these are all strangers...I was just trying to capture how big the screens were, for I knew that might have kept you up at night, wondering.)
The walk back to our $10 parking spot was long and Caleb wondered why neither of his parents ever carry him anymore? And I wondered too-How many miles did we walk, through fairs and parks and zoos where we had decided "Nah. We won't need the stroller." Immediately dooming ourselves to spending hours with a tired little boy slumped upon aching shoulders? So I jokingly offered to try again and Caleb found it much harder to hang on then previously. Here, Sam takes a turn. You can see that I barely have a head above his long lanky body, and ended up just kind of dragging him along the sidewalk...
Here, Josiah tries to help Caleb out, and Sam keeps trying to find a way to regress.
Back to a more innocent time.
Back to when his Mama seemed tall, and strong.
And he could merely stick out his little lip, raise his pudgy arms and suddenly he didn't have to walk on his own two feet.
'Fraid those days are over, sweetpea.
1 comment:
I'm so jealous of your ability to head over to Hayward Field and just put your noses through the fence! (Brian and I walked around there on our second date! It's truly a historical place! heh, heh) Maybe in 2012~God willing!
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