The four years between the winter Olympic contests seem to slide by quicker than they used to. Where, I wonder, has the time gone?
In one of my recent moments of Olympian “remember whens”, I recalled one of the first Winter Olympics I can remember, as a fourth grader in Mrs. Thurston’s classroom. I hunted down a post I wrote, during the 2010 winter games, which, if so desire, you can read about here.
Can it really be that four years have past since I wrote that post?
Have you been watching the 2014 Winter Olympics? Have you been thrilled by the skiing and the hockey, the snowboarding and bobsledding (gotta love the Jamaicans), the ice dancing and figure skating? To me, no matter where one’s roots are planted, the Olympics are golden opportunities to watch gifted and determined athletes from all corners of our small and wonderful planet.
I’m partial to the ice rink events; from ice dancing to pairs ice skating and anything else with two blades, flowing costumes and music, I sit, perched this year on my couch, with what looks like more snow outside and much colder temperatures than the weather in Sochi, watching, in awe, the warm poetry on ice; the skill, the strength, the athleticism.
What is your favorite Winter Olympic sport?
(PS – there is a very short post on Olympian skier recently posted on Brittle)
Lifeonthecutoff's Blog 
I am sorry to say I haven’t paid a bit of attention to the Olympics this year, other than to read the articles about how warm it is and how unprepared they were. I usually get into the Olympics, the skating events in particular. I even like to watch the speed skating, which can get monotonous, but it’s such a powerful endurance sport.
LikeLike
The fact that you are in training for your own olympic fete is surely playing into your watching, Andra. It IS warmer there than here. Speed skating is an endurance sport, for certain. I watch them go round and round and round and it looks so simple – and it is not. Having just recently been to a professional hockey game, I can appreciate how very fast and strong speed skaters and hockey players are. Of course, I can be on ice and land on my bee-hind faster than anyone.
LikeLike
I can’t even ice skate, Penny. At all. MTM laughed the last time I tried it, a decade ago. “You GLIDE, Andra. You don’t step.”
LikeLike
I can’t either, Andra; landing on bee-hind is accomplished merely going to get the mail. Either way, I hope your feet are taking a rest today.
LikeLike
I no longer have a TV set because New Zealand has converted to digital TV and we all have to buy new sets. And I’m too busy swimming and walking and enjoying being outside in the summer weather to sit inside and watch TV anyway! And so the winter olympics have passed me by. The skating sounds lovely though and maybe next year I’ll get to see some (After buying a TV!).
I’m spending the evenings reading ‘Lark Rise to Candleford’, after watching the series on DVD, recommended by you Penny – a different world altogether, slow-paced and full of its own delights.
LikeLike
I would be doing the same things, Juliet, and catching the sunsets as well. It is amazing how many folks, worldwide, have been impacted by digital TV. I do believe there is a New Zealand contingent at the winter Olympics, though I don’t know what sport.
Now, Juliet, visiting “Lark Rise to Candleford” is a much better way to spend your warm summer nights. I’m so thrilled to know that you watched the series on DVD and hope you are enjoying the book. I just loved reading it, savoring the pages and the pictures, as well.
LikeLike
For some reason, we have missed the Olympics this year. We usually watch them. Since television left analog signals and became digital, we have gone to satellite TV. We just got out of the habit of watching anything on major networks. That and a combination of fascinating new grandchildren, power outages, etc. We just have not watched too much. My husband usually has control of the remote. If he sees some of the Olympics, he flips quickly past in fear of me getting involved in ice dancing, or finger skating. This all started one time when I cried as someone fell down two or three times years ago. He kept saying, “she wasn’t going to win anyway.” I said “that’s not the point, she has worked hard her whole life for this moment and she will remember the fall more than her success. Sniff, sniff.” He runs in fear of those emotional moments. He he he.
LikeLike
If truth be known, I really haven’t watched as much of the Olympics this time around as I usually do – and was feeling a bit guilty. It seems, at least thus far, that most of my wonderful readers aren’t viewing it as much, if at all, so, I will put my guilt back in the drawer and feel better. You, of course, have such wonderful reasons why you aren’t watching, and a few weather power outages as well.
What I have seen, on NBC, has not impressed me; not the athletes, but, the coverage. I’ve been very disappointed and neither one of us has seen one awards ceremony. In the end, someone wins gold, and I always enjoy seeing that. Oh well, off my rant. Instead, I’m giggling at your own remote Olympic sports, especially finger skating, and your tears with the “agony of de-feat”.
LikeLike
Oops, just reread that. *figure skating not finger skating. Although, I might be successful at finger skating. I could glide my hand across a mirror using my graceful fingertips. LOL
LikeLike
Haha! I’ve known you for so long, Janet, that I thought you wrote “finger skating” on purpose and started skating with my own fingertips, humming “skate to your seat”. Wish I had thought of the mirror.
LikeLike
Haven’t watched this year but usually do. My focus now is on a livestream from BC of a mother cat with 6 kittens. Figures! We saw them born and are having such fun seeing them grow as they are now 4 weeks. But in years past I loved figure skating and mr.r likes the luge.
BTW, Downton finale tonight so don’t want to miss Rose at Court!
LikeLike
That sounds wonderful to watch, Marilyn. It is so amazing to watch the beginning of life and how much kittens grow in the first 4 weeks. How fun!
Thanks for the reminder. I will be “front row, center”, more likely prone on the couch, for the finale. Can it really be the end of this season? and Rose at Court. Wonder if she and Cora’s mother will butt heads. tee hee
LikeLike
I’m with you on the ice dancing, Penny. And I like the mens’ ice dancing best. Such athleticism, and promise, and determination. Fabulous sport.
It will be no time until 2018 and the next round. But we have Rio first…Phil’s out there this minute sussing it out ready for the footie World Cup and Olympics…
LikeLike
I’ve missed most of the mens’, Kate, but, agree wholeheartedly. Those lifts from the men in the pairs, with the women at basically a headstand, amaze me. How strong both have to be.
Oooo. How exciting. Will you be going for both events? Oh, dear, I’m already turning green with envy.
LikeLike
In the past I’ve always been a keen viewer of the Winter Olympics, Penny especially the ice dance and figure skating, but I just wasn’t able to get into it at all this year. Mind you, DH made up for my indifference by becoming totally hooked on curling and several of the newer ski and skateboard events. 🙂
LikeLike
By the comments left here, it seems that many of us haven’t been quite as glued to the screen watching this year’s Winter Olympics, Perpetua. Thank goodness DH is taking up the slack for the rest of us. We did see some of the newer ski and skateboard events, which are so different and another form of athleticism. I watched a bit of the curling, not understanding the strategies, but, found myself gaining interest in it. I need someone like your DH to explain it to me.
I do hope you are continuing to recover, Perpetua.
LikeLike
I enjoyed your memories of your 4th grade teacher, Mrs. Thurston, Penny. One thing that interested me was that she came to your home. I don’t think I ever had a school teacher come to my home. Interesting difference!
I haven’t watched as much of the Olympics as in previous years. I think I just haven’t been home as much, and I don’t bother to tape them. By the time I do land I’ve already heard who took medals and maybe that has influenced me a little. But I think much of my disinterest has simply been because there have been too many other distractions. I did see some of the ice skating, and that is always a favorite event. And I watched some of the interviews with parents. Oh my but they have my admiration!
My mother-in-law was one of Peggy Fleming’s teachers (Hollywood Professional School) and took her to her ice skating practices in Pasadena. I don’t recall what years, but I presume leading up to her Olympic years! The time and money and total sacrifice of these Olympic athletes and their families is something to behold! I’m so glad you enjoyed the events, Penny!
LikeLike
Actually, most of my teachers in grades K-8 came to lunch during my elementary education, and so did those of my sister’s. As she got a little older, my mom would invite both teachers at the same time. It was my mom’s way of saying “thank you for teaching my daughter(s)”. We lived in a suburban area with a public school district that had at least one school per square mile and most kids went home for lunch. Can you imagine doing this today? Permission slips, insurance riders, background checks. Even thinking about your mother-in-law driving a student, albeit a famous one, to ice skating practice, is indicative of a simpler time – and isn’t that a bit of interesting family information? Wow! I loved watching Peggy Flemming, and to know your mol was part of getting her to her goal is such a nice thing. Yes, indeed, a great deal of effort on many fronts goes into these young men and women getting to the Olympics, with lots of sacrifices.
I wish you and your little darlings were here with me right now, for, across the road, right in front of the bright yellow wildlife crossing sign, are about 12 deer, foraging in that neighbor’s lawn. They went to cross the road and all stopped to let a car go by. We’re very civilized here on the Cutoff. tee hee
LikeLike
As I did not watch any of the Olympics, I’ll have to say my favorite is Peppermint Patty on Ice!
LikeLike
Me too. I always love Peppermint Patty (and Woodstock whistling the song).
LikeLike