We ordered Chinese food for supper Friday and snuggled on the couch for the opening ceremonies, which were dazzling as usual. The chills started with the opening film, narrated by Sterling K. Brown.
And after everything in between, I teared up watching Yuna Kim skate so gracefully before accepting the torch from Chung Su-hyon of North Korea and Park Jong-ah of South Korea, who carried the torch up a mountainous staircase …
And then there was all the politics that went with the opening ceremonies.
In an extraordinary show of unexpected unity, North and South Korea sat side by side Friday night under exploding fireworks that represented peace, not destruction, as the 2018 Winter Olympics opened on a Korean Peninsula riven by generations of anger, suspicion and bloodshed.
The sister of North Korea's leader, Kim Jong Un, shook hands with South Korean President Moon Jae-in — and appeared genuinely pleased — while they watched an elaborate show of light, sound and human performance. Minutes later came a moment stunning in its optics and its implications: the United States, represented by Vice President Mike Pence, sitting a row ahead of Kim's sister, Kim Yo Jong, and the North's nominal head of state, all watching the games begin — officials from two nations that many worry have been on the brink of nuclear conflict.
Today, it was Olympics, all day, from the time we got out of bed, until way past the girls’ usual bed time.
Two days ago, I hadn’t heard of them and I’m already rooting hard for husband-wife ice skaters Chris Alexa Knierim. And brother-sister ice skaters Maia and Alex Shibutani. And the McFarland, Wisconsin, curling team of Becca and Matt Hamilton. Thanks to NBC and their fine storytelling.
But the highlight of the night for me was watching Red Gerard’s gold medal run in men's slopestyle snowboarding and the drama of waiting to see whether his score would hold up.
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