Posted on by LydiaA1614

Olympic Memories

TorchWatching the opening ceremonies of the Rio Summer Olympic Games is in many ways bittersweet. While my relationship with my Dad was a rocky one at best, the games were something we could enjoy together… even if we were apart!

Eight years ago I was in the hospital having and recovering from a total knee replacement. My Dad paid for me to have a TV rental and I was so grateful for many reasons. I didn’t want to miss any of the Beijing summer games and as it turned out I got to watch most of it live in the middle of the night because I couldn’t sleep. My roommate slept like a log and I had headphones, so it didn’t bother her at all. The nurses would come in to check on me but would always ask for an update.

In the mornings my Dad would call to see  how I was doing but our conversation would quickly change to the day’s events. I would tell him which events were worth tuning into without giving away any medal news. Then he would call me later and we would discuss it all. He lived fairly close to the hospital at that time; however, his sight was decreasing and wasn’t driving out of his local area. This way we got our visits in and actually had something to talk about.

When I was released from the hospital after five days, Hubby had set up a recliner chair and TV in our spare room so the arrangement with Dad continued until the closing ceremonies. I was still often watching live in the middle of the night when the pain was too great to sleep.

By the time the 2010 Winter Games were being held in our “back yard”, Dad was living with us. We had the games on constantly and would watch all our favourite events. He had believed he would not be around to see them. He was so proud of all our Canadian athletes and how well the games were hosted.

Two years later, Dad passed away in February, six months before the United Kindom hosted the 2012 summer games. I watched them often thinking “Dad would have loved this” or “I’m sure glad Dad wasn’t around to see that”! The same went for the Sochi winter games two years ago in Russia.

And here it is, that time again.

Dad, I will be waving the Red and White for both of us as our athletes give it their all once again.

Lydia!

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17 Replies to “Olympic Memories”

  3. Well at least besides enjoying the Olympic opening ceremony in Rio it brings memories of you and your dad watching them in the past. Though people dear to us die they still live in our memory so in a way they are alive. This is why I often fly with my imagination in the past to relive moments with them and even hear their voices and the things that they said.

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  5. What a beautiful tradition, Lydia. I’m sorry to hear that your dad passed away, but you still have some precious memories stored in your heart. Enjoy the games! We just watch the U.S. and China play basketball. 😀

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  7. I love the Olympics….my mother was the one who would watch them with me as a child…especially the winter games…I love them all…sitting here watching swimming as I type…..enjoy, and I am sue your dads got a front row seat……kat

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