I’ve been trying to write this since we left the Women’s Gold Medal Volleyball Match yesterday afternoon. Walking home my smile slowly faded and gave way to a sort-of-melancholy. I am not sad necessarily, but I miss that feeling we all felt the last few weeks with the Olympics.
That unbridled joy.
The fucking beauty that is this cité.
The empathy on display over and over and over again.
I tried to articulate it to my wife this morning. I struggled for a minute before I mumbled something about two weeks of the best of us as a species.
But that’s really what it felt like. Winners consoling the vanquished. Women celebrating other impressive women. A city and a world celebrating a woman who was mistreated by an ugly world.
I found myself tearing up just going through photos today. Lindsey Horan consoling Japanese then Brazilian players made me prouder than any on the field victory. Simone and Jordan Chiles giving Rebeca Andrade her flowers and a bow put a lump in my throat and made me so fucking glad I got to exist in this timeline.
We can be like that for each other always, can’t we? I mean, when it’s your turn to shine why shouldn’t I celebrate louder than the thunderous arena? How much better will the world be if we follow the example of these amazing women?
I relished getting to see Marta play one last time. And the Brazilian fans brought a party we all want to get invited to. Turns out all you have to do to party with Brazilians is show up. Same with Uzbekis and Mexicans and Armenians and…
Even strangers on the metro were old friends. I shared an American flag with a French guy who gave me my first French flag as he marched out of the station chanting USA! USA! USA!
And the events themselves? Holy moly they were amazing made even more amazing by the gorgeous venues! This cité is alive and I think the world saw that (when they weren’t interrupted by commercial after commercial. Seriously, get a VPN) from the Opening Ceremonies all the way to the very end.
I was only able to attend a handful of events, but I caught a lot on the television (no commercials – thanks Eurosports!) and was blown away like the rest of the world. And like you I fell in love with players and teams I had never known before. When Alice D’amato won Gold my wife and I cheered so loud we’re pretty sure she heard us at the venue.
Tomorrow to make myself feel a little better I will walk down to Tuilleries and snap a few shots of the flame before the Paralympic crowds arrive in a couple of weeks.
The Paralympics… wait, so my daydream isn’t over just yet?
