The Olympic Games

The Beijing Olympics are in full swing. It seems that the more 'Olympics' I experience, by way of the media of course as I never been to one, the less interested I am. But I have no particular beef with them and I don't want to come across as a killjoy or a wet blanket. It's just that I get my excitement by other means; like a good drop of rain, or the long close up encounter with a Leuwin's honey eater I had yesterday when I went to Laurie Begge's garden to pick some 'Flamingo' pink Pieris flowers. The honeyeater was there before me, taking his fill of nectar.

This is the 15th Olympics of my lifespan. I can list them off pat and follow a track through my life.
Helsinki, 1952, I was but a suckling babe. A good'n, mum tells me.
Melbourne, 1956, I was busy catching flies for the pet frog at kinder.
Rome, 1956, We drew maps of Italy with Mrs. Lambert in Grade 3. (Mrs Lambert was wonderful. She had brother Jod in grade 4 the previous year and, because he struggled at school, she had him at her house one evening a week for extra tuition (free). Her husband was a copper and did shift work. They lived in Blackburn Rd. Mum dropped Jod of in the car and because me and Meredith were there too Mrs. Lambert took us in too for an hour or so and gave us some work to do appropraite to our age.)
Tokyo, 1964, in form one at secondary school, Dawn Fraser was the star, third gold medal, same event, in successive games.
Mexico City, 1968. American sprinters gave black power salute. I was expelled from school. The world seemed to change rapidly from the mid sixties.
1972, the Munich Massacre. Shane Gould. Drug taking accusations made about Eastern bloc countries. I was called up for national service.
1976, Montreal. No gold medals. I'd moved to Wangaratta.
1980 Moscow. The US boycotted the games as did most Australians, protesting the invasion of Afghanistan. Nadia Commenicci? Still in Wangaratta.
1984, Los Angeles. The Soviet Union boycotted this time in response to 1980. In Gembrook now, busy establishing house and garden.
1988, Seoul. I was busy with young kids. More drugs controversy, this time Chinese swimmers, American sprinters, and weightlifters.
1992, Barcelona. Keiren Perkins. I was still busy with young kids.
!996, Atlanta. The Coca-Cola games. Kieren Perkins. Still much drug controversy. Still busy with youngish kids.
2000, Sydney. I was torched out by the opening ceremony. Cathy Freeman. I remember the jazz ballet routine with the Victa mowers.(*#!*)
2004, Athens. Nothing comes to mind. Ian Thorpe?
2008, Beijing. As I said, I haven't been enticed. I watched and enjoyed the opening ceremony. Sally Rice? Michael Phelps? Plenty of good rain in Gembrook.