After all this time all I own is the movie.
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Chapter 35: Reunions Part Two: Salt Lake
Have you ever had a secret so good that you have wanted to scream it from the top of a building? You know how it can make you feel how you want to jump out of your skin? How you feel nervous and excited all at the same time? Well I most definitely know how that feels….because as of right now all I want to do is run to the nearest building and shout to the world what I know. But I know I can't and looking at my watch I realize that in about 5 minutes everyone will know what I know.
I have to admit at first I thought this was a bad idea….so many people in one place….some of them high ranking government officials….with the entire world watching. We were assured that we would all be safe, that the security measures were unprecedented….but still….after everything that happened on September 11th and with everything that is still going on in the world….was it really that safe to host an Olympic games in the United States?
Now that I am here at the opening ceremonies and after the massive amount of security measures we all went through today just to get out of the airport I am willing to admit that I was wrong. I think we….America….needed this….needed to show that we were ok….that while we will always remember we will continue living. When my dad had told me that the Olympic committee wanted the "Miracle on Ice" team to light the torch at the opening ceremony I asked him why? Why them? Why now? The Olympics have changed greatly in the last 12 years. There are more countries involved, more sports and there for more athletes. There is no longer the Communist block of countries for the US to "go against". However, the biggest change….and possibly the worst….has to be that now professional athletes can compete. That is why I couldn't understand why they wanted a bunch of 40 year old men who really weren't famous to light the torch. That honor usually goes to people like Mohammad Ali….not to my husband and his friends.
My dad wasn't too happy about it at first either. He had already agreed to coach the US Hockey team and felt that by having the 1980 team there and so visible that people would try to draw comparisons between now and then and he kept saying that there wasn't any comparisons to make. There would never be another "Miracle on Ice"….the world, the sport, the Olympics….had all changed so much….there was no way you could ever have all those pieces fall into place again.
However, after a lot of phone calls, everyone agreed that it would be fun….hell it gave us all an excuse to get together. And here I am sitting with my mom at yet another Opening Ceremonies. Of course we are both a little older and our family has grown considerably. Sitting with us are my three kids; JJ, Payton, and Katie; my sister and her family; and my brother's brood. We are quite the crowd! The kids are bursting out of their seats, they have been told repeatedly that they can not tell anyone what they know and they have all been really good, but now….with only minutes until the big reveal….they too want to shout it from the rooftops.
When the big moment finally arrives the reaction of the crowd is unbelievable. When Rizzo first appears everyone claps, there is excitement….but then he begins to wave the guys over….much in the same way he did during the awards ceremony all those years ago. At first people are not quite sure what is going on, but when they begin to see the rest of the team file in they get it. Then they all huddle around the torch to light the flame and I swear I got a flash of them all huddled on that medal podium with their fingers in the air. By the time they all turn back around I am in full blown tears. To hear the crowd react with such love….it was overwhelming….it was perfect.