Olympicitis

I love the Olympics - the pomp and circumstance of the opening ceremonies - and the anticipation of all the atheletes - during that opening ceremony, they are all gold medal winners in their minds. This year they were incredible. And we have the added attraction of them being in China this time. Noelle is excited and so are we. She loves it when we get to hear someone speaking in Mandarin. She gets a certain smile on her face and tilts her head to listen, then translates to us. She cheers happily for the Chinese or the US, running around the table during track, her arms making wild circles during swimming, her unschooled toes trying to point during gymnastics.
It seems, though, that so many of the great moments on very late - I have spent many nights in the living room, all alone while the rest of the family sleeps, pumping my "yesssss" arm and blinking back misty eyes during the playing of the star spangled banner. And so...I am exhausted. I have spent more than two weeks staying up two or more hours past my normal bedtime. I am fighting illness, it was ahead the first week, then I rallied early in the second week, but it hung around till I weakened again. As I write this, the US women are fighting for the Gold against Brazil (volleyball), my head is throbbing, even after three different types of medication. Earlier, as I was watching, I dozed - lightly, I thought, but Akaela tells me that she laid down with me, that Alex was playing with my hair, and that they kissed me on the nose. Apparently, lightly is a matter of opinion. :-)
Though I am exhausted, and sick, I'm still a little sad that tomorrow night will be the end of the Beijing games. Sure, it will be great to sleep for more than 5 or 6 hours a night again, and regain a clear and hopefully, painless head...but for two weeks every four years, I watch the best atheletes in the world compete and make friends. I see the promise of youth and hope and excellence ... and I recall other Olympics, when the kids were young and I was explaining what the decathalon was.. and even further back, when I was watching Nadia or Olga with my siblings and parents. Little capsules of time captured in my memory, where the world gathers around their television sets cheering for the youth of the earth. How great is that? I'll take the headache, and keep watching for as long as I can...
Blessings, all!
Lisa