‘It’s been an interesting week Camp. I’m talking about the Olympics in Paris. It started out with a great rain-soaked spectacle at the opening ceremony. The whole city of Paris was the stage while hundreds of boats brought in the athletes. Did you see it?

            ‘As you know, I don’t have a TV and no, I didn’t see it. I was kind of busy trying to make a living. Summer is still the best time for a book store. People need books for the holidays.’

            ‘You need to watch Celine Dion’s closing song ‘L’Hyme d’Amour, performed from the 1^st level of the Eiffel tower. Considering what she’s been through with her health it was a stunning performance with the whole world as her audience.’ 

            ‘I’ve heard about it and will get Muriel to dial it up on U-tube.’

            ‘I love watching the live drama that only the Olympics can provide. Like the soccer spying scandal making Canadians look like cheaters and the players on the women’s team like heroes.’ 

‘It all started with Ben Johnson who won the Olympic gold in 1988 and then was stripped of it, three days later when he tested positive.’

‘Are you suggesting that everybody is spying on the other teams with drones?’

            ‘I’m saying that others undoubtedly spy on their opponents but they haven’t been busted like the Canadians.’  

‘Reminds me of the doping scandal in bicycling. First it was only Lance Armstrong who was caught cheating and then confessed to Oprah but he still had to ride and win the Tour de France seven times. Then it turns out that everybody was doing it. Did that level the playing field? Of course not. Only when everybody is drugfree is it a fair measure of strength and endurance.’

             ‘I love the true winners though, like the gravity defying Simone Biles or Summer McIntosh who already won 2 gold medals in the pool and at 17 is a true inspiration.’

            ‘Yes, unbelievable. The power of youth is evident at these games.’

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