It has not been a good year for the United States. The deep financial crisis on so many levels continues to impact a large chunk of Americans, rich, poor and especially those in between. The scar known as Iraq also continues, claiming young lives and poisoning the thoughts of the world toward the US. As the John McCain ad says, "Washington is broken, John McCain knows it. We're worse off now than we were four years ago." Whew!
But during the past eight days (eight days and eight gold medals) the slumping economy, the mess in the Middle East has been softened by Beijing ... and Michael Phelps.
Today, we took a boat to the small beach town of Las Animas south of Puerto Vallarta. Off season, we were about the only non-natives there. But before long, a large tourist boat packed with Mexicans arrived, the moms and dads and kids bouncing off for a day at the beach.
In the line of folding chairs facing the slapping surf, a man chose the seat next to me. Speaking nearly perfect English, he said he was vacationing with his family from Guadalajara. A chemist for an international pharmaceutical firm, he was educated in Mexico City and Chicago. He loved being in the U.S., he said, adding he felt sorry about what is happening there now. He mentioned the economy, and how it is impacting not just the US but Mexico and the world. And he raised the thorny issue of Iraq, asking (as we have heard so many times) how Americans could let something like that happen. "It just does not seem like something that is what people in your country do," were his exact words. Then came the uniting question.
"Did you watch Michael Phelps? Oh my God (a favorite saying here) he is amazing. What pride you must have." Yep, really amazing ... historic ... uniting ... yes, proud (like I had a hand ... or a stroke ... with his performance).
But think about it. For a moment, there has been no economy, there has been no Iraq, there has been only Michael Phelps. Like a fresh summer breeze blowing out stagnant noxious air. Michael Phelps.
Well, our lunch came so I went off to eat (fresh fish quesadillas ... yum), and he went off to be with his family, graciously saying how much he enjoyed talking again with an American (even if it was an American who now lives in Mexico).
Fast forward to tonight, watching Phelps being interviewed by Bob Costas, reliving not merely a surreal experience but an historic one. It's tough not getting teary eyed. It's like you want him to live next door, invite him over for a beer (OK, maybe not a beer since he had a DUI four years ago but you get the idea). He seems like a normal guy, except for all those gold things hanging around his neck.
Anyway, I know, there is another full week of Olympics ... amazing feats of competition among the brightest athletes in the world. But maybe it is best if we all turn off our TVs now and relish the Phelps phenomenon. After all, it can't get any better ... and pretty soon we'll be back to the news of foreclosures, bankruptcies, lay offs, and oh yes, that thing in Iraq.
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