My goodness but I’ve been quiet here lately. Did you notice? Bless you.
My life has undergone a few Olympic moments since the Opening Ceremonies way back on February 6th. Some were scripted, the majority were not. I’d like to share a few of the precious ones with you here. In keeping with the spirit of the Olympics I’m breaking them into both “just typikel” and “medal worthy” categories – bronze, silver and gold.
Just Typikel Olympic Moments.
Just typikel moments are those that veer drastically from the original game plan. My most recent one? The failure to meet my two children in New York for the highly anticipated university reading week get-together.
I managed the first flight of two just fine. Once the plane landed I settled in for my four-hour layover. However as recounted in my New York Times post all our plans evaporated when that second flight was cancelled because of unfavourable weather conditions in New York. I wasn’t able to rebook another until two days later. Disastrous news. This was a huge chunk of our precious time together. The three of us would have to make alternate plans. Long story short – the NY trip was trashed and a new plan was hastily hatched. I’d stay where I was and my two would come to me. There was no other option.
As an added treat my luggage went missing. Of course it did. It was booked through to New York. As the hours wore on my thoughts turned ever bleaker. Would I ever see it again? Funny how small problems loom large in the dark of night. My mood improved immeasurably though as I began to itemize what was in the missing bag. I’d actually forgotten to pack several special things for my children. Their carefully sourced Valentine’s Day chocolates, their delayed Christmas presents from our faraway New Zealand friend and those tins of my daughter’s favourite teas were safely ensconced on my bed back home. I would not have been popular mommy had that loot been lost. Hooray for my forgetful aging brain!
Happily due to an accidental paper cut my bag and I had a wonderful reunion the next morning.
Bronze Olympic Moments.
Bronze Olympic Moments are those events in which things could be better. Case in point: my snowboots.
I’ve had these gems for a good ten years. They are warm and fit well.
They also don’t owe me a penny. I realized they were long overdue for replacement as I slipped and slid my way through the city’s snowy streets due to their nonexistent tread.
Of course, it was inside a crowded lobby that I fell. In full view of a crowd of horrified employees and guests. Such a special moment. After striding out of the crowded elevator as the confident mom with her two adult children in tow that I am I was suddenly thrown to the ground onto all fours. One of my darlings had stood on my trailing laces. Of course.
The room fell silent as it always does in the milliseconds after the unexpected occurs. Then the crowd rallied and rushed over to help.
“Shall I get ice Madame? Ice for the swelling?” fussed the worried employee, certain I’d sue.
“My that must have hurt. You fell with a bang!” observed the fellow elevator passenger, formerly mute.
As per usual, because I do that sort of thing a lot, I remained on the ground and attempted to reassure everyone in that pseudo English accent I adopt in times of excitement.
“No worries. I always do this. Not a problem! I am just fine! Just splendid, thank you!”
“Oh Mooommmm!” giggled my two hysterical children, incapable of neither speech nor empathy. I couldn’t blame them. It was just typikel…
Silver Olympic Moments.
Silver Olympic Moments are those moments that are almost perfect. Naturally upset that we had to cancel our Saturday night Broadway show tickets I was thrilled to stumble across a theatre just blocks from our hotel. The girl at the box office informed us that comedian Brent Butt was performing his standup comedy act for one show only. That very night. Magical.
Don’t know this handsome chap? You should. He is a very funny Canadian actor, writer and comedian. He created and acted in the television show Corner Gas which ran for six seasons from 2004 – 2009. I know him. Sort of. He often dines at my favourite cafe.
The last time I saw him there I found myself speaking to him.
“My but your Instagram numbers have shot through the roof, haven’t they?”
Wait. What? No wonder he flashed me a quick little smile and fled for his seat.
Anyway, once I found out he was playing there that night I simply had to get three tickets. My two were a weensy bit worried when they initially viewed the audience. Five or maybe six people, including them, were under 35.
They needn’t have worried. Mr Butt put on a wonderful show and had all of us transported. We quite forgot we should be in New York.
If Brent Butt was a silver Olympic moment what was the gold? You’ll have to wait until next time.
Yes, enough about me and my Olympic moments. I’m curious about you. Have you ever had highly anticipated plans deleted in the flash of a medal? How did you react? If you’d care to share, I’d love to hear.
17 Responses
Oh wow, it sounds like quite the time! I can’t believe your children would laugh at you. I would never to that to my mother. As she fell over a sand dune in Maui. In front of an entire surf class. And kept yelping “Oh! Oh no! Don’t look at me! Oh! Oh no! Don’t look at me!”. Nope, I would certainly never do that. And I wouldn’t still be giggling about it, as I reminisce, fourteen years later.
I hope you get some fun new boots that will last you the next 10 years and you don’t have any more medal-worthy experiences for the next 4 years.
Hahahaha!Of course you wouldn’t laugh at your mom nor continue to do so fourteen years later! Just like I don’t laugh at mine umpteen years after the fact her bikini top whipped off in the gigantic Hawaiian waves and she was so puzzled as to why her entire family left the beach …
Thank you for the good wishes re the boots. And the medal-worthy experiences. Have high hopes for the boots wish. As for the medal-worthy experiences, well …
Tee hee…Loving your English accent!! My husband is stuck in Frankfurt as I type due to the airport strike yesterday.. and I accidentally booked him into a hotel in the middle of an industrial estate. I’ve loved every day of the olympics – I’ll miss them next week. And don;t forget we Brits now have an impressive record-breaking number of medals too!
Oh Helen – you make me laugh. You booked him into the middle of an industrial estate? Oh there’s a story. So easily done though. Hope he can fly out soon. Yes – you Brits did well too! So fun – I shall miss the Olympics as well. However, judging by how quickly the last 4 years passed the next ones will be here before we know it.
Oh Kelly what a trip and I don’t mean the cancellation. Hopefully the bruises and the ego are still intact – I here the judges gave you a perfect score though!!
Now a trip my Mom sister and I took required us to change planes in Dallas, a rather large airport. With only 15 minutes or so to get to our next gate we were indeed in an Olympic sprint. My Mom was lagging behind and abruptly stopped to announce she needed a pit stop. “Ok” her two brash teenage daughters said -“hurry up though”. With that she spun on her heals (may have even clicked them together) and promptly walk into the mens bathroom. A young man had perched himself so the signs were blocked. My sister and I were hysterical – we attempted to call out but this man came in and then out of the washroom checking the sign that was now free of its young block. Now this was funny enough but we could here her calling out to us and wanting an answer back – that was it we were on the floor. Minutes later Mom came out with a rather angered face to meet her two hysterical daughters. “whats so funny” no words were spoken only gestures to the sign. Now pink with embarrassment we restarted our Olympic sprint to our connector flight. A truly golden moment!! Sure do miss you Mom, thanks for the memory though.
So now my friend Kelly off to the shoe store post haste – you have a load more memories to make with your kids!!
Hahahaha! Janice that is classic. Just classic. I love the “may even clicked them together” Oh you guys must have been howling. Thank you so much for sharing that. Made my golden day even golder.
Oh I totally need to steal that! It would be epic to go all English every time I fall/trip/blunder.
Great post Kelly!
Splendid – you are more than welcome to steal the accent. Top drawer and all that, wot?
Two days ago, Kel, I executed a magnificent swan dive from the height of a few steps onto the hardwood floor of a local Art Gallery. Consternation on the faces of two terrified young men as they wa tched me lying there. i rolled over, realized nothing seemd to be poking though my skin or broken, and slowly sat up. Friend behind still gasping with horror. Told the young guys that I would push myself over to the stairs on my bottom and asked them to lift me gingerly up the steps until I could stand. This accomplished with little grace, I then slowly elevated my very sore body upright and assured them that I was completely fine. Offered a glass of water and escorted to car. My doctor told me later that I had a very hard head. Like mother, like daughter. We are a tough bunch!
We are a tough bunch. No wonder I manage such Olympic feats so often – I get it fromm you. Like mother, like daughter indeed.
Would love to have seen the scene where you fell, kids laughing and you with the English accent ! Glad you were ok ! I think that my children would have laughed as well !! Hope your trip home was less eventful .
Oh man – it was classic Jane. My two will dine out for days on that one… Yes trip home a piece of cake by comparison. Even pulled up to the gate early!
So glad you were able to rescue your weekend
Thank you Barbara! As my pal says we made lemonade out of the lemons.
Oh you poor gal! Falling – splat! – in the middle of the lobby. Quite obviously the best strategy is laughter and an English accent! Catching up on my favorite blogs, I’m reading this in reverse order and already know what your gold medal moments were. I’m guessing the gold made the silver and bronze seem sweeter.
Hahaha! I’m doing catch up reading too! So many lovely ones to read and just not enough time. Not to mention writing! Yes you’re right – the gold did make the silver and bronze seem sweeter!