DISAPPOINTMENT

As most of the world and all of Chicago knows by now we were ousted in the first round. The chance of seeing the Olympics in my hometown in my lifetime is over. I have carried gloom and sadness around all day today. I was awake in the middle of the night watching the presentation. I was standing in front of the TV watching every thing before the vote. I looked at the crowd in the loop and thought about the night in Grant Park when the election results named Barack Obama president and knew how some of those people there were going to feel when they announced Chicago as the winner of the 2016 Olympic games. I have been in combat with every friend and relative who thought it was bad for Chicago to have the games here. I felt the wind go out of the sail when the first round results were read.

And yet I don't know why I was so on the side of victory for Chicago. In 7 more years I would probably not only be unable to afford any tickets, I probably would be too old to fight the crowds and walk the avenues and just enjoyed watching on TV like I do every Olympic event. I would moan and groan about the congestion, the back up of traffic all over the city and the crowds in restaurants, stores and public transportation which is my way of getting around. We would be prisoners in our own homes until all the visitors left and went home with their gold, silver and bronze and the torch was dimmed but we would be proud. Proud that Chicago put on the best Olympic show ever. That Chicago showed the world what a beautiful and friendly city is all about. That Chicago's reputation is in the past and we have change the way we do business and are no longer second city but the city every citizen of our city, our state and our country is so, so proud of.
I guess that is what I was looking forward to and feel the disappointment of that maybe, just maybe not happening in my lifetime. Sorry all Chicago citizens for or against the games, I hope you will feel that in your lifetime.