After The Olympics

The Olympics are over and I can't bear that thought :'( After two decades of fantastical dreaming and failed bids, two years of a serious campaign to Back The Bid, the unbelievable thrill of the announcement that the 2012 hosts will be "London" followed the next day by the unbelievable horror of the terrorist attacks in London, the pulling together, the seven years of working towards the Games, then sixteen days of magic. I'm so glad the Paralympics happen in a few week's time, that London 2012 isn't over, it's really only half-way through. And while I'm sad that I never got to be a GamesMaker (my dream job, ever since I was 11 and watched the Los Angeles Olympics) I'm so glad I got to go to the Olympics twice - for the opening ceremony rehearsal and the weightlifting, two different venues including the Olympic stadium. And I have a huge stash of souvenirs, including 12 T-shirts (the oldest bought 2 years ago), pins, stationery, and supporters scarves. It would be nice to think that things won't quite go back to the normal we had before, that this has changed things, especially when there was almost constant doom-mongering right up until a week ago that it would be dreadful, or the transport system would fail, or Team GB wouldn't do well (Ha! But whether we'll reach the heights of 29 golds again is another question). I'm so glad it was so wonderful.