Somewhere in the middle of the Olympic Summer Games in London our great nation and many other sports fans from throughout the world suddenly fell in love with our classy and talented Canadian ladies’ soccer team. We didn’t really get too excited when they survived the preliminary round with a 1-1-1 record, but then after our soccer sweethearts blanked the host British team 2-0 in the quarter-finals, the rush was on and the hopes were high for a medal.
I have to admit that I kicked the ball around a lot when I was a kid, but the only soccer I watch now is when my grandchildren play. Then again, when we heard the overwhelming hype of this Olympic soccer clash between two heated and perennial rivals, there was no way we were going to miss another classic United States versus Canada game. It didn’t matter that the U.S. crew had won all but three of the 20 clashes of these two powerful teams in the past,
it would be all on the line in these London Olympics before millions of avid fans. For those who watched, we will never forget a magic soccer Monday afternoon that was really hard to describe, and which featured a gruelling nonstop confrontation where both flashy teams would give a hard fought and supreme effort for nearly 90 heart-stopping and totally thrilling minutes.
Although Canada led the game three times, the Americans kept battling back, tying it on a controversial late penalty kick, then scoring the winning goal with only a few seconds left in extra time in likely one of the greatest soccer matches ever played.
Our devastated Canadian squad had only 48 hours to recover and get ready for the bronze medal game against a good French team, but they did. When Diana Matheson scored in extra time, the cheers could be heard around the world, and it gave our great nation their first medal in ladies’ soccer Olympics competition since 1936. What a great inspiration this superb Olympic effort is for our extremely active Canadian soccer program, hopefully leaving an ongoing legacy of enthusiasm, support, and growth in the future for all categories and age groups of this invigorating and healthful game.
Sincere congratulations to all of our Canadian Olympic athletes for their outstanding dedication, pride, and efforts, and the 18 medals that you will be bringing home from those friendly and highly successful games.
By the way, the next Winter Olympic Games are in Sochi, Russia from Feb. 7 to 23, 2014 and the next Summer Olympic Games will be hosted by Rio de Janeiro from Aug. 5 to 21, 2016.
Now let’s have a little fun
When I sit down to type my stories I am still trying to adjust to the antics of our wild and wonderful computer world, afraid that I might make a mistake and lose it all. I must admit that I have occasionally had to contact a friend, relative, or techie whiz to get me out of a mess and here are the some of the answers I might have given.
• Tech support: What kind of computer do you have? Answer: A white one.
• Good afternoon, this is Mike. I can’t print, and every time I try, it says, ‘Can’t find printer.’ I even lifted the printer and placed it in front of the monitor, but the computer still says it can’t find it.
• Tech support: What’s on you monitor now, ma’am? Customer: A teddy bear that my boyfriend bought for me at 7-11.
• Customer: I can’t get on the Internet.
Tech support: Are you absolutely sure that you used the correct password?
Customer: Yes, I’m sure, I saw my co-worker do it.
Tech Support: Can you tell me what the password was?
Customer: Five dots.
• Tech support: How may I help you?
Customer: I’m writing my first email.
Techie: Okay, and what seems to be the problem?
Customer: Well, I have the letter ‘a’ in the address, but how do I get the little circle around it?
Here are some neat new bumper stickers just for us retirees
• Fishmore and Dolittle, Retirement and Planning Consultants.
• Live each day like it’s your last, one day, you’ll get it right.
• Young at heart, but slightly older in other places.
• At my age, Happy Hour is a nap.
• Goodbye tension....hello pension.
Always remember that sometimes we need to pretend to be normal, but when that gets to be boring, just go right back to being you and then have a great week, all of you!