Not Ready for the Olympics

In idle moments my head still reverts to the Canadian National Anthem.  “Oh, Canada, glorious and free!”  We heard it so many times during the Olympics.  Congratulations, BTW, to all my Canadian friends.  We were pulling for you (most of the time…)  

Maybe it was the next door setting, or the lure of the underdog hankering for the gold medals that had previously eluded them on home soil; maybe it was the death of the Georgian luger or America’s lack of medal prospects in some sports like ladies and pairs figure skating; but for whatever reason I sensed a more generous spirit in these Olympics.  

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Commentators seemed to have greater appreciation for the achievements of other athletes and less of the yeah-rah-America-we’re-the-best attitude that has often irritated me in the past.  (Maybe you have to have lived elsewhere to see how often we come across as the obnoxious, immature braggart to the rest of the world.)  For whatever reason, I enjoyed it.

I am not ready for the Olympics, but I will be competing this coming week.  The US Figure Skating Association’s Adult MidWestern Sectional Competition will be held at the Indiana/World Figure Skating Academy in downtown Indianapolis March 12-14.  I used to skate regularly at that rink so it will be coming home for me.  Besides, my dad can come and watch.

My program is to the theme from the movie Out of Africa.  (The picture shows me at a competition several years ago.  Same music, same costume, more challenging program now.)  I skate on the Bronze (next-to-the lowest) skill level against others in my age category.  (Rachel Flatt and Marai Negasu will NOT be there.)  I will be happy if I keep the nerves at bay and “skate clean” regardless of how I place.  The music is beautiful, and my dad words “I’m proud of you” have always been my highest dream of praise.

I have arranged to have a display table and an ad in the competition program to promote my new book, Crossovers.  I hope to have my hands full, selling and signing books.  My daughter helped me make pins showing the book cover photo to give away.  A large competition like this should be a good place to reach people from all over this part of the country.  Hopefully, they will get excited about the book and tell people back home.  

If you are in the area, I would love for you to drop by on Saturday, hang out at my table, and tell people how much you enjoy my books!  My group is scheduled to compete on Sunday morning around 10—not an ideal time for this church-going lady, but no one asked my preferences.  I doubt I will manage to write a regular blog next week, but I do promise to let you know how it all comes out.

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