Author's note: So here it is...THE END...again I am so sorry it took me so long to finish it. But you know what, minus a few other plot twists I had at one time been thinking about, this story has ended the way I always planned it to end (that doesn't always happen when I write). Thank you to all those who have read all 37 chapters! I hope you are satisfied with the ending.
If Disney wants to sue me for borrowing "their characters" they can...what are they going to get from me? A 5 year old Honda? I say...BRING IT ON! LOL. Of course I still don't own them.
And for the last time...Please read and review.
Chapter 37: Reunions Part 4: Miracle
I don't know how my dad would feel about this. I mean I know he helped with the project but a movie about a game, a team? I don't know. I just wish he was here tonight. He would have loved seeing the team.
Everyone is all smiles tonight (such a contrast from the last time we were all together). Over the years I think we have all come to accept that what happened in Lake Placid meant something to a lot of people….to the country. I know my realization came when I got to meet one of the men who was held hostage in Iran before the 1980 Olympics. A cable network had decided to do a documentary on "The Miracle on Ice". They contacted Jack, Rizzo, my dad, and the other guys about being part of the film and most of them agreed. When we got to the studio there was a man who I didn't recognize. He wasn't part of the IOC or US Hockey. He spoke perfectly clear English, so he wasn't part of any of the old Soviet system. I thought maybe he was a reporter or a historian. When I found out who and what he was I was even more confused as to why he was there. What did he have to do with my husband and the team? He must have seen my confusion because he explained to me that when he was freed the government gave him a video tape of all the important events he had missed while in captivity. He told me that the last thing on the video was clips from the hockey game and while he was sad that he had missed it live it meant so much to him to see the pure joy in the teams eyes….to see the underdog persevere. I was quite moved.
But tonight is not about that documentary. Tonight is the premiere of Disney's "Miracle". A movie that is obviously about the 1980 hockey team. When they were filming Jack and I got to go to the set a few times. It was very surreal. Here were these strangers re-enacting scenes from my life and I have to tell you when they all had their gear on it looked so real. The actors they picked for the team are all pretty good hockey players and all of them have some sort of resemblance to the player they are supposed to be. For example the guy playing Jack has my husbands smile and he is pretty cute too. "Rizzo" has a similar body structure as the real deal. But the best "imposter" has to be the kid playing Buzzy, but then again that makes sense seeing as he is Buzzy's son! How cute is that!
I have to admit I wasn't really looking forward to tonight. I have never been one for the spotlight, in fact I even asked the makers of the movie to leave "my part" out. I didn't want the attention, plus I really feel that the movie needed to be about the team, not Jack and I. At first the studio was hesitant about omitting me….they said a solid love story would help sell the film to a wider audience. I simply told them they already had their "love story". That these 20 guys from different backgrounds all came to together and became a family. I'm not sure if they bought it or just didn't want any trouble from my dad and the team, but I am thankfully not mentioned in the film.
The film, by the way, is excellent. I cried. I knew exactly what was going to happen and yet when I heard Al Micheals say "do you believe in miracles?" I cried….full blown tears no less. It is funny how one line, one phrase, can some up an entire life. "Do you believe in miracles?"….sure Al was talking about the team beating the Soviets, but when I look back I see so many more miracles. It is a miracle that my dad got that coaching job….he was not the first choice and there were numerous times I thought he was going to be fired. That these 20 guys were all chosen for the team is a miracle….there were so many other players….better players….but my dad wanted them. It's a miracle they all ended up getting along! Of course, Jack is my miracle. Had none of the above happened I may never have met my husband, the father of my children….the other miracles in my life. I could go on forever; because the thing is miracles happen everyday to everybody you just have to be able to see them. I think that will be the most lasting thing about the 1980 team….they showed people that miracles do happen you just have to believe.