we are the champions...

Oh. My. GOD.

I don't even have the words to express the excitement and torture that was tonight. I am too hyped up to even write anything. This was the single greatest night of my life. I watched them Women's Soccer team win Gold and I just cannot explain it. I had a blog idea while I was walking to the subway and I already forgot it. My mind is a million miles a second; I don't think my fingers will ever catch up. I feel like I am being flash quoted and all I keep saying is "I'm so happy. I'm so happy." But I am. I felt like I was part of that team tonight. I felt every frustration, every bad touch, every misplaced kick. When Hope Solo would dive through the air to block a kick I felt the thud of her landing. For all the shots that were mere centimeters off I let out the same sigh of relief the players did. With 30 seconds left and a Brazil corner kick pending I closed my eyes, thankful, like the girls on the bench, that I was not out there.

There is nothing like the Olympics. It has such a power to move people. I have never had that feeling at the Bears game. I felt like my entire life had been working to this moment, yet I was simply sitting in the stands watching. I always wished I would compete in the Olympics, first it was ice skating then soccer. The reality is, I never came close. Heck, I couldn't even make starter on varsity soccer, let alone attempt to be a sub on the USA Women's team. As I sat in the stands I knew this is the closest I would ever get to that dream. Those last 30 or 40 seconds ticked away slowly, dreadfully slowly. The only comparable experience is that of the minutes before taking a final, where you can no longer cram because you are too busy panning out all the possible situations. The what ifs. What if they get a break away? What if we foul in the box? What if they score? It's amazing how many thoughts can race through our minds in such a short period of time.

I will never be able to put into words what I felt tonight. The relief I felt when the game was finally over. The compassion and sympathy I felt for the Brazilian woman who just played 120 minutes of spectacular soccer, yet have to stand up on the podium as second best. Or the pride I felt for my country as I watched our flag being raised with the Star Spangled Banner playing the background. I am not a good enough writer to recount the evening in such a way that it makes you trade places with me, makes you feel like you were there standing next to me. All I can say is, I will never forget this night. AHHHHHHH!