Hard to Focus When You’re Crying

Crying tears of joy, that is.

Today, while I sat in the anatomy lab, dividing my attention between the numerous foramen of the skull and the Men’s Super-Combined splits coming in live on my computer, I watched history be made.

Bode Miller won his first gold medal. For those of you who have read my previous post on Bode and the Olympics, you know how big of a fan I am of Bode and that this medal was a long time coming.

After seeing his downhill run, where I expected him to shine, I was disappointed at his 7th place finish. As I watched the splits come in for the slalom run, I was very skeptical of how it would turn out as Bode is more hit or miss on slalom than anything else. Hesitantly extatic when he finished and took the lead, I waited for the leader, Aksel, to make his way down, knowing that he was, in all likelihood the one who could take the gold away from Bode. Aksel started off behind Bode but never finished. Bode had won gold! I immediately grabbed my phone ran out into the hallway and called my parents who know more than any other person how much this meant to me. I couldn’t help from exclaiming Bode won gold! at the top of my lungs. I didn’t realize how loud it was until I heard my words echo in the hallway. I didn’t care — this meant everything to me!

It was very difficult to regain my focus with my studies. With tears of joy in my eyes and a huge smile on my face, I began to settle back into study mode with my friend. I couldn’t help but keep glancing back at the screen of my computer and hitting refresh to make sure that no one had taken Bode’s gold away.

And now I attempt to study for tomorrow’s exam in Head Anatomy while I watch proudly as Bode Miller, the kid that I saw potential in long ago, now all grown up and re-focused earn his first gold medal. I am so, so proud of him!