My mind and my eyes have been turned to the Northwest this week. Once the spectacle that was the Super Bowl was over, my thoughts immediately turned to Vancouver! You see, I am Winter Olympics fanatic!
There are many reason I love the Winter Games. One goes back to my childhood. I thought Jean-Claude Killy was hot! My guess is he is still hot as he is approaching 77.
Another reason I love the Winter Games is ice hockey. I have always been a huge hockey fan. I watch every chance I get and love college hockey. My daughter (#3) was never a big hockey fan until going to college. Now she misses being able to go to hockey games all the time.
Probably the biggest reason I am a Winter Games fan is Lake Placid. I was in Lake Placid for the 1980 games. I worked food service in Olympic Village – now a NYS prison in Ray Brook, NY. I worked housekeeping on the college campus where I was attending classes. We housed telecommunications personal in new dorms – apartment-like dorms. I went to medal ceremonies on the lake. High school marching bands from around NYS – including one from Norwich, NY where my father, step-mom and two half-sisters lived – played at the awards ceremonies.
And, yes, I was there in the arena for the Miracle on Ice. I was also in the streets of Lake Placid following that wonderful win.
I have never looked at Winter Olympics the same since 1980. Lake Placid closed down the streets of town. Shuttles came through but regular traffic was not allowed. People wandered around the streets, in the streets all the time. I thought it was like a village in the Alps – at least from pictures I had seen.
I still dream of going back to Lake Placid. For years, I swore I would retire to that village. I am not married to that idea any longer but I do want to visit – in the winter – some time soon.
Nicki's Nook 
I too love the Winter Games and did as a child. I remember every time the Olympics were over, I would calculate how old I would be when the next games took place. Kind of fun that I calibrated my childhood based on the Olympics, huh?
I also love ice hockey. My father and brother-in-law both played hockey in college and we would go to Yale each season and watch a game. Lovely, chilly memories indeed!
I still go to hockey regularly. Unfortunately, Cornell hockey sells out and the men’s games are impossible to get tickets to unless you are the opposition.
I am not very interested in the Winter Games. I know. I am more of a runner/swimmer so the Summer Games appeal to that part of myself.
I think it’s because I really hate the cold. And the snow. I want to move to Tahiti. (Except that they have humongous spiders. What am I to do?)
I do love the swimming and running also, Amber but favor the winter sports.
I love the Winter Olympics 🙂 I love the figure skating, the skiing, speed skating… I love it all!
Me, too, Corinne!
I was gonna go to Cornell womens hockey Sunday, except it turns out they played Saturday and I have missed the whole darn season, RATS! Next year Nicki, let us know, and we can meet up!
We will get to a women’s game next season, Gary.
We lived in Utah when SLC hosted the winter games and it was so fun to go down and participate (by WATCHING not COMPETING obviously). My husband was living in Norway when they hosted, but wasn’t able to travel up there until after they were over, but it was still a cool experience to be in the country.
My kids are really excited and we will probably watch, even though I am not a huge fan of watching any sports, really.
We love the winter games around here too, Nicki! Must be because of the sweltering heat in Arizona! They’ll never have a winter Olympics here, that’s for sure. But my kids love the winter sports and the speed of some of them, aided by ice and snow! It’s pretty thrilling.