I am a huge Olympics fan.

I have this secret longing to be an Olympian.  I always think of them as the perfect kind of celebrity.  They are celebrated for their incredible talent and not for any looks.  They are pure, hardcore athletes with a lot of driven passion.  There is something really honorable about that.  I think that’s why I’ve always wished that I had an athletic talent so great.  Also, they are famous, but most can walk down the street without being swarmed (though not immediately following the Olympics, of course).

So the Olympics always bring about a certain sort of patriotism, sadness, jealousy, and happiness.

Patriotism because I am a born-American, but, because I have traveled, I have a lot of love for other countries as well and I am easily patriotically swayed by a good underdog story.  (And I was actually sad to not be Canadian tonight during that beautiful video in the hour leading up to the opening ceremony.)

Sadness because I’m an average person sitting on my couch watching like millions of others.  I like being extraordinary, never average.

Jealousy for previously stated reasons.

Happiness because who isn’t happy when the Olympics are going on?!  It’s the best of the best of the world’s athletes!  I shed a lot (I repeat, a lot) of happy tears during the weeks of the Olympics.  I am practically a little fountain.  (For the record, my sister, Carla, is just like me and also sheds a lot of tears.  We can’t talk much during the Games because we are much too emotional.)

So anyway, all that to say that the Winter Olympics are finally here and I am an emotional wreck.

I love it.

P.S.  I am feeling very hateful to NBC right now for how they completely skipped over Uzbekistan in the entrance.  Go figure when the media picks up on the U.S. and Canada and, coincidentally, Uzbekistan is located alphabetically right after the United States and Canada, as the host country, comes last.  The commentators were so busy talking about Shaun White that they didn’t even film or recognize Uzbekistan.  By the time they were done getting over him, Canada was entering.  My heart is angry.  Thus, the games begin.