Of Letting the Rhythm Move Her

I'm not sure if it was my first exposure to the sport, but one of the few things that stuck in my memory from watching the 1996 Summer Olympics (other than Kerri Strug's heroic vault, of course) was staying up until 2am (because I was twelve and it was summer, so why not, right?) and discovering Rhythmic Gymnasts (who were only aired during those wee hours of the morning, in the days long before DVR) twirl a ribbon through the air and do amazing contortions of their body through a hula hoop.  I thought it was magical.

Since those middle school days of having no other life than lounging in front of the television until my eyelids were going to fall off, I have not had the ability to indulge in the once-every-four-years airing of this particular event (as, apparently, America has no investment in this sort of artistry at all) - until now.

Now that it's aired during the normal morning hours, reserved only for housewives and jobless college graduates who live with their mothers, I finally have the privilege of watching in awe, once again, as one slender dancer after another, adorned in glitter and spandex, makes a bouncing ball a fluid member of her own body.

And the best part this time around is having my four-year-old daughter sitting nearby, also marveling at this amazing feat.  And when it's over?  Seeing her pick up her own glitter-filled ball and attempt to hold it by sheer will on the inside of her knee, just like "the girls" did.

Everyday memories, sponsored by the Olympics (and NBC, of course).



(And just in case you need a reference point for any of the above to make sense)


1,000 Gifts:
738. Opening my fridge to see sprigs of parsley, fresh ground nut butters and salad fixings
739. A full fridge
740. Kissing boo-boos
741. A tiny, fleshy tongue sucking on my arm
742. "Secret Missions"
743. The Library
744. Renewing memories

Whole 30 - Day Two:
Breakfast: Egg Scrambled in Walnut Oil, Banana
Morning Snack: Apple with Almond Butter 
Lunch: Leftovers from last night
Afternoon Snack: Frozen Blueberries, Strawberries and Bananas blended together (amazing!)
Dinner: Shaslik (Russian Kebabs - with chicken rather than lamb because lamb was too expensive and broiled, rather than grilled, because our grill is broken), Green Bean Bacon Bundles (minus the sugar and with Ghee rather than butter), Sliced Tomatoes

Today got rough when I gave the kids popcorn for snack (their diet isn't as hard-core as ours, though they have the same breakfast and dinner) and wanted just one kernel, but I held strong.  Also, the Whole 30 plan discourages against snacks, but I'm a nursing momma who is donating a good portion of her calories to a certain little boy, leaving me hungry and shaking even after I finished breakfast, so I had to put those back in - I don't plan to rely on them, but I won't deny myself nourishment when my stomach is super angry.  Finally, that dinner was about the most amazing thing I've ever made/eaten - LOVED it!!!  We'll be pulling that out again, and long after this Whole 30 is over, for sure.

Of Four Years

Four years ago I was tuning into the Summer Olympics - one of my favorite events ever (even more so than the Winter, which are still a favorite, just a little less favorite).  I was very pregnant and begging this baby would come out earlier than planned so as to give me enough time to recuperate before heading to my brother's wedding (the stubborn and punctual little girl waited until her due date - she was not going to do this any earlier than she had already planned).

We watched the opening ceremonies that year with some friends, whose two-month-old baby girl slept on the floor while their four-year-old played in her room.  These were the only two children between us.  It was a low-key and delightful experience.

Four years later, same friends, same house, we strove to hear the announcers over the sound of our own three kids playing with their three.  After the artistic (and, at times, "interesting") portion of the show, as the nations began their parade into the arena, we had to pack up a three-year-old, two-year-old and five-month-old who were all well ready for bed - we wouldn't even get to stay to watch the flame ignite.

Life has changed so much in four years - and, yet, it feels it's all the same.  We watch the events while hearing so many of the same names, seeing the same faces, while also taking part in the joy of new competitors, hearing new stories and watching new moments of history being written.

It's this little thing, this one event, this single thread running through time, that reminds me how quickly life passes.  Some things change, some remain, but still it goes.

Interested to see where and how we'll be viewing these Games in another four years, but for now, relishing the moment before us.

1000 Gifts:
706. An unprovoked, "I love you, Bubba!" from our little girl
707. Emmett telling me, "I want to keep you, too."
708. Cruising the curves of familiarity.
709. Riding off into the sunset to see my man.
710. Small-town street lamps at dusk.
711. An eternal flame of gratitude to our fallen heroes.
712. Clouds like powdered sugar.
713. Little baby, rocking and rolling
714. Growing baby, sitting up on his own
715. The ever-increasing curiosity of a developing baby boy