Special Olympics

DH and I were volunteers at the New York State Special Olympics this weekend. The whole experience has been overwhelming. Right now I am wondering and worrying about the groups from NYC way - I can't imagine they would have gone back today with the snowstorm that has dumped almost 2' of snow in the city; I can imagine how upset they all will be if they don't follow the schedule!

On Friday, we checked in teams. A representative from each group had to confirm the list of names, show proof of a medical release for each athlete, and get name bracelets. Some teams were the athlete and his/her parents.

The first athlete we met was a young man who was very friendly. I asked him where he was from - Queens. Then I asked what event he did - floor hockey. "I did it nine years ago, but got banned because I was wild." He went on to tell us that he has a degree - an AA degree from Queens Community College and works at the Flushing Library. I looked for him all day Saturday, but never found him! What a character he was.

Two other guys from the NYC group became the official luggage porters - some of the groups stayed in the hotel we were at. They found the luggage cart and took charge of getting all the luggage from the buses to the rooms. Every trip was speedier than the last! Finally, they announced they were taking the bus driver to his room.

On Saturday, we were assigned to the Olympic Village. This was an area where people could find fun or educational things to do when not involved with competition. Our building was the floor hockey events. The hockey they played was different than anything I'd ever seen. They use a dowel-pole about 3' long. The puck is a flat rubber circle with a hole in the middle. This is moved by placing the stick in the center hole and pushing it. This way, no one is swinging a stick!

Dental students from Buffalo checked teeth, the Lions Club had vision people there, an ear test was available, and a group was showing how they could do things to help them physically - basically exercise. There were games to play, a magician, a juggler, a balloon guy, a local radio station, the Syracuse University soccer team, and the local zoo had a display. We had several characters in those hot costumes; one being the Little Caesar guy.

Our job was at the hockey shooting. The Syracuse Crunch have a blow up cage with a goalie imprinted on a flap. There are five holes in the flap and the player tries to get the puck in a hole. We had to retrieve the pucks and make sure there was control!! We were busy most of the time as they loved using a real hockey stick. We had many repeat customers, so got to know a few of them.

One group of guys play ice hockey on Sunday nights. They play in a league with other handicapped people and even go to Canada. They told us how the Special Olympics pays for their rooms and everything. After each game, they'd come back to report they'd won. The semi-final game was rough and they almost had a fight. There was swearing, too. We heard it all - even the swearing that had gone on!!

Soldiers from Fort Drum Mountain Division were assigned to help later in the afternoon. I think they were to tear down the place. They enjoyed our hockey game and the miniature golf. The athletes gravitated to these people. One athlete walked up to a soldier and said, "I know what MP means - you are military police." Then he saluted.

I had a difficult time when the soldiers were talking with our buddies. The soldiers looked like they were barely out of high school. I told DH that they could be heading to Iraq. He told me they know what they're doing when they sign to join. I said no kid that age knows what they are doing! The guys were telling a group of the soldiers about their rough game. I don't remember how it evolved, but one of the athletes said, "Just go out and have a drink!" The soldier's face turned bright red. "We can't," he said. "We aren't old enough." He knew as well as I did that he was younger than the hockey team.

My mind has been boggled by this. Babies heading off to war, people who need so much care, people who are so dependent on others, the families who deal with some very difficult situations every day. Then I flip channels to the horrid politicians running our country (lumped as a group), the bazillions of dollars professional atheles, movie stars, and singers make and none of it makes any sense to me.

As we were leaving, DH thanked me for signing us up to volunteer. He said he had a great time. He is an amazing person, anyway. He was so good with the people. (I can't say kids as most of them were adults. I think the youngest age I saw was 11 and the oldest was 49.) He helped them hold the stick correctly, gave them several chances to shoot, and encouraged them. He'd high-five them or knock fists when they finished.

I got to watch the end of the championship game our buddies played. They won! We went to the medal ceremony. They shook our hands, high- fived, and thanked us for cheering for them. When we were leaving they yelled, "See you next year."