Sometimes it takes a good loud cry

We have had the BEST time watching the Olympics. Last night as we watched the Closing Ceremonies, Avery did her own gymnastics performance for us. After we had tucked her in, she came into our room and told us that she was going to need to cry for a while about the Olympics being over. She just wanted us to know what was going on, so we wouldn't go in her room to see what was wrong. Then she went in her room and we heard VERY LOUD crying. It was truly adorable. I wanted to cry loudly too. But, since I am an adult, I refrained. We have had so much fun watching the Olympics each night, especially the gymnasts and divers, track stars, and I personally like the volleyball (not beach, just the regular variety).

Anyone who knows me well knows that I have ALWAYS LOVED THE OLYMPICS. When we lived in Africa, my dad recorded 11 full tapes of Olympic coverage in Sydney Australia in 2000, and airmailed them to me. I devoured those tapes. I remember as far back as the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, when Mary Lou Retton got the gold. During those Olympics, I was 10 years old and was at my grandparents house at Lake Texoma and it seems like yesterday to me.

The summer Gabe and I got married, we decided we did not need a TV. I was fine with that, until I realized it was 1996 and the Olympics would be on in a few weeks. Of course, we were left with no option but to go out and buy a TV, and thank goodness we didn't miss those Atlanta Olympic Games!!

I guess I love the sports and competition, but I also love the music - the olympic theme that NBC plays. I also love that it's the only time the whole world comes together for anything. And this year was truly great. So many world records being broken, and the athletes seemed more humble and "real" to me than usual (most of them, anyway) So, we are sad that it's over, and we want to cry loudly. But, the bright side is that I won't have to stay up til all hours of the night anymore. I was definitely losing beauty sleep.