One Sunday during the first week of the Olympics, I was folding the laundry as my daughter snuggled in my bed (she has a nice life). At that particular moment, the men's downhill competition was on, and I mentioned that I hoped that Papa (my father) was watching, becuase he so loved that particular sport.
That evening, and every evening thereafter during the Olympics, she and I played beat the clock with the nighttime rituals to make sure we were in front of the TV at 8PM for the primetime coverage. As we got settled, she insisted we call Papa to make sure he was watching too. I loved hearing the messages she would leave for my father describing the Olympic event schedule for the night, or the particular "sparkly princess" that would be skating soon.
What struck me during the weeks of the games was a conversation with her surgical team when she was an infant. As we were being informed of the logistics of the procedure she was about to endure, it was mentioned that the only downside of having part of her lung removed was that she might not ever be an Olympic athelete.
After watching the half pipe, luge, and bobsled events, I secretly hoped that she wouldn't aspire to be the best in the world in those arenas. But knowing what she has already overcome in her short tenure thus far, she is my Olympian already.
That evening, and every evening thereafter during the Olympics, she and I played beat the clock with the nighttime rituals to make sure we were in front of the TV at 8PM for the primetime coverage. As we got settled, she insisted we call Papa to make sure he was watching too. I loved hearing the messages she would leave for my father describing the Olympic event schedule for the night, or the particular "sparkly princess" that would be skating soon.
What struck me during the weeks of the games was a conversation with her surgical team when she was an infant. As we were being informed of the logistics of the procedure she was about to endure, it was mentioned that the only downside of having part of her lung removed was that she might not ever be an Olympic athelete.
After watching the half pipe, luge, and bobsled events, I secretly hoped that she wouldn't aspire to be the best in the world in those arenas. But knowing what she has already overcome in her short tenure thus far, she is my Olympian already.
