The Olympics, Pindar and Guiney

by | Jul 27, 2012 | Uncategorized | 2 comments

Yesterday was, truthfully, one of the most remarkable days ever experienced chez Guiney. As I mentioned in my last blog, my husband, Don, was honoured for his two decades-worth of work with London Baseball and youth sports by being named an Olympic Torch Bearer. And yesterday was the day.

It began with him waking at 5 am so that he could be at Islington Town Hall to get his uniform, meet the other Torch Bearers and get his instructions. We were both so nervous and excited, that I was up at the ungodly hour, too, to see him off — although I then got to go back to bed for an hour.  Then at about 8.30, number 2 son plus a brother-in-law who had flown in from Boston to be a part of it all walked up to Cheapside in the City of London to where Don’s run would start. We knew we needed to be early, but we had no idea how many thousands of people would really be there. This is what we found:

Thankfully, we found Number 1 son plus lovely girlfriend and then we began to push our way towards the front. I became crazy, shouting out “I’m the Torch Bearer’s Wife”.  (The Torch Bearer’s Wife: sounds like something out of Chaucer). But we were able to get to the front to watch Don step out of the bus, into the screaming crowds as if he was a rock star. The look of shock and awe on his face was priceless. I was even able to give him a good luck kiss. Then the torch arrived being carried by the London Philharmonia’s spectacular conductor, Esa-Pekka Salonen, the hand over was done and he was off.
And in a blur, it was over. Later last evening, we had some friends over for celebratory bubbly and a random speech or two. I reminded us all, as our illustrious Mayor, Boris Johnson did before us, that you  can’t have an Olympic experience without evoking that most famous of Greek lyric poets, Pindar, and his Olympian Odes. I went a step further, dusted off my old copy from graduate school and translated a bit that seemed especially suitable.



And so, I am the one who is the swiftest
both in hands and feet
although I am one among men
who sometimes find their hair growing grey
even before the appropriate time of life

So, hear! hear! to my hero, Don — a man of great passion, determination, and prematurely grey hair.

 (Thanks to all who were there with us in spirit, not to mention the ones who have been sending so many photos and videos, some of which I’m sharing here now.)

2 Comments

  1. Joe Stein
    Joe Stein on 27th July 2012 at 11:58 am

    I think that’s fantastic, Sue and congratulations to Don. Nice to be recognised for something worthwhile, although I’m sure when he started the baseball stuff all those years ago, he never thought it would end up with him carrying the Olympic torch!
    Joe
    (PS Absolutely nothing wrong with prematurely grey hair!)

  2. shaunag
    shaunag on 5th August 2012 at 9:14 pm

    Congratulations, Don and, of course, Sue and all the family! Sounds fantastic.