I looked out the window this morning and noticed that is looked very gray  out and, yes, a light rain was falling.  Sharp contrast to the three bright, sunshiny days that preceded today.

Darn, where did the sunshine go?  Wait a minute, it IS  February.  The dead of winter, as they say.  The East Coast is getting tons of snow and north of the border, in Canada, why its the Winter Olympics.  Thank goodness for NBCs coverage or I fear that most of the U.S. would forget.

At the halfway mark, we (the U.S.) are doing well in the number of medals won as compared to every other country at the competition.  Its nice that the media has something to do besides criticize.

I think that what goes unnoticed is that every athlete competing in the Vancouver Games is an Olympian.  He or she is the best their country has to offer in their chosen event.  Not only that, they will ALWAYS be Olympians.

They worked as hard as those competitors who will take the medal stand.  They are as dedicated, self=sacrificing and intent on being the best as those who will hear their national anthem from on top of the podium.

The goal is, of course, to win the gold and failing that to win a silver or bronze medal.  I would say that is shooting high.  There are no losers at the Olympic Games.

This is true in all walks of life as well.  There are the  people who do what it takes, with no accolades and really with very few people noticing.  I think it is about time to start.  Who are those people in your life?  Is it you?

In light of what I just said I want to acknowledge a true Olympian in every sense of the word.  She celebrated her birthday this week or she would have if  she hadnt been killed on August 30, 2008 by a drunk hit and run driver while out training for her 9th marathon in the early hours of that day.  It would have been her 52nd birthday.

Here is someone who climbed the training hill from the beginning.  Shelley was 2 lbs. 1 oz. when she was born at Virginia Mason hospital, Seattle, WA. with sight in one eye.  She was 2 ½ months early she was so anxious to start training.

A voracious reader from the age of three to straight As until her graduation from Smith College and Arizona State University law school she always stayed the course.  Some would say she was stubborn.  When she decided something that was it.

A good example is deciding to swim the English Channel.  She didnt listen to anyone about how hard it would be.  She just prepared.  She didnt make it.  Few do.  She was purple after nine hours in the cold channel water.  Of, course, she had already won;  she was swimming in the English Channel.

Shelley chose the law to study and was a public defender for 24 years.  She defended the guilty and the innocent equally.  She couldnt do anything else.  It was her job.

I think of her every day.  Sometimes fleetingly.  Sometime longer.  Shelley, I miss you and love you with all my heart.  I hope your training is going well.