TrulyGrace

Always a pleasure

Spoke with Caro via Skype video call.  We learned about what each other is doing since our last contact (by Skype).  I learned how to say "a crutch" en francais:  une béquille.  I told her about my petite histoire about learning my calling...she thanked me for reminding her of the details.

We spoke for about forty-five minutes by video call.  It's always a pleasure to talk with her!

Mom, Dad, and I went to noon Mass.  Fr. Nick V celebrated the Mass.  Dad was a minister of communion.  Talked to EJ and his family after the service was over.  We enjoyed sandwiches and salad afterwards for lunch.
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Watched the Olympics on NBC the past few days:  Track and field, and swimming and diving events, including Michael Phelps's last event (4X200m medley relay) of these Rio games.

This evening, Mom, Dad, and I sat with Alva and some other neighbors for their building picnic.  I made brownies for it, which disappeared handily.

During prime time tonight (Sunday) we watched the men's 400m track race:  Wayde van Niekerk of South Africa.  His mom competed in the Republic of South Africa during apartheid rule, and she could not represent the country in international games.  His 74-year-old coach, Ans Botha, is a great-grandmother.  See
http://wapo.st/2biw3G8?tid=ss_mail

Usain Bolt, whose image is visible in billboards around Kingston, Jamaica---for he is the country's sports darling---handily beat out all the competition by maintaining his 41-stride 100meters (as compared to the competition's 44+-stride race).  In the qualifying heat he was seen to cross himself, and before and after the final race of the competition he crossed "Spiritus Sanctus, Pater, Filius," in that order, twice.  In the NBC interview post-race he was seen to be sporting what looks like a Miraculous Mary medal.

Next was the men's floor exercises in gymnastics, upset by the British, and two Brazilians in gold and silver and bronze, respectively.

Women's gymnastics showed the vault, with Oksana Chusovitina, a seven-time Uzbekistani Olympian competing at the age of 41 years, and two-time medal winner in team gymnastics and the vault.  It was stated in an NBC program earlier that when her 16-year-old son became ill, they went to Germany to seek treatment, and likewise she participated in competition to help pay for his treatment.  A photo was shown where he was standing with his mother post-treatment.  Nineteen-year-old powerhouse Simone Biles from the USA handily won the vault event, followed by

posted by Grace @ 8/14/2016 04:14:00 PM