Apparently all I needed was a healthy dose of Women's Figure Skating to cheer me up. We stayed up until 11:45 to watch that final score come in to see if Sasha Cohen would medal. I can't fathom a system that allows people who fall during their performance to medal, but other than the fall, the rest of her performance was just dazzling compared to the non-medallers.
When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to do something exciting and beautiful with my body. I wanted to be a gymnast or a figure skater or a dancer. Dance is just sublime to watch and participate. I have always been riveted to the TV when the women's gymnastics floor routines are on, ditto the women's figure skating. I never took a single class in any of these things. I just didn't have the body for it, didn't believe I had the body for it, and everyone around me made it quite clear they thought I didn't have the body for it.
So much happens in childhood to shape what we become as adults.
At least I can watch and remember my dreams and not feel envy, but this sense of wonder when I watch these girls. They create beauty just by moving. It's truly miraculous.
As an aside, there are also some great commercials during the Games. I think it's GE that has these kids imitating the movements of their favorite Winter Olympic athletes. Home Depot's kid voice overs describing heroes is nice. And last night United Airlines had this amazing animation pieced together with little cut-outs. High-class South Park you could say, about a man going off for a flight, and his son dreaming of all the fabulous things his father is doing while he's away. One of the best commercials I've seen in years.
When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to do something exciting and beautiful with my body. I wanted to be a gymnast or a figure skater or a dancer. Dance is just sublime to watch and participate. I have always been riveted to the TV when the women's gymnastics floor routines are on, ditto the women's figure skating. I never took a single class in any of these things. I just didn't have the body for it, didn't believe I had the body for it, and everyone around me made it quite clear they thought I didn't have the body for it.
So much happens in childhood to shape what we become as adults.
At least I can watch and remember my dreams and not feel envy, but this sense of wonder when I watch these girls. They create beauty just by moving. It's truly miraculous.
As an aside, there are also some great commercials during the Games. I think it's GE that has these kids imitating the movements of their favorite Winter Olympic athletes. Home Depot's kid voice overs describing heroes is nice. And last night United Airlines had this amazing animation pieced together with little cut-outs. High-class South Park you could say, about a man going off for a flight, and his son dreaming of all the fabulous things his father is doing while he's away. One of the best commercials I've seen in years.
Animal Planet always cheers me up. Well, mostly. When the get serious and cover stuff like the animals that were left behind after Katrina, that just breaks my heart. But The Planet's Funniest Animals always cracks me up.