Once in a Lifetime

This summer has been an explosion of awesome in the UK. First the Jubilee and then the Olympic and Paralympic games. Our experience of it all has been one of joy, pride and community.

Although we missed out on Olympic tickets during the bidding process we managed to secure Paralympic tickets to two events.

Last week we went to the team dressage test (1b) where we saw the almighty Lee Pearson ride under a darkening sky. If you ask Monty what he wants to be when he grows up, he’d tell you ‘a horse, the kind that lives in a field.’ He told the soldier who security checked us on the way in and anyone else willing to listen. Despite finding sitting still for so long a challenge he was enthralled by the horses, especially the one who brought a friend to watch them compete.

This week we went to the stadium for a morning of athletics. Having been a distinct opposer of athletics since being forced to run 1500m ‘warm ups’ as a tubby 12 year old I surprised myself at turning out to be very pro (on the assumption I’m not doing it myself). The Olympic Park and Stadium were phenomenal – well ordered, clean and staffed with exceptionally friendly volunteers.

The experience was euphoric – cheering and clapping for people who have worked so hard to put themselves in that arena. We wore our national colours and sung our national anthem; I can almost see why people enjoy football so much.

More than anything this was a once in a lifetime event. The night we won the bid my friend Joe started his post about it with the line “I’ll be 32″. The very thought of it made my 25-year-old self scoff and yet it happened. Here we are; it’s 2012, I’m 32 (which isn’t so old after all), I have three children and London hosted an outstanding Olympic and Paralympic games. I am so grateful we got to be there and share this.

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