We hadn't intended to watch the ceremonies -- in fact I'd forgotten about them completely!
But last night we went out to eat because our place was just too hot to bear cooking, and our restaurant had two tiny tvs in the bar area. While it's not a sports bar, usually a game of some sort is on those tvs, with the sound off. Last night though the bartender turned up the sound, turned OFF the house music, and shouted across the restaurant "it's the Olympics, people!" At first we all laughed nervously, because, well, it was pretty odd for this restaurant...
But as the ceremonies unfolded the restaurant quieted and every head was turned to those small tvs. As folks finished their meals, they started clustering in the bar area to watch (us included). It was such a swanky experience to watch that stunning spectacle with strangers...there was spontaneous applause, some weeping, and marvelous quips were exchanged. The parade of nations was treated as a fashion competition with scores shouted out, which sounds far more disrespectful than it was (we also booed every time they cut to a commercial). We had no intention of staying until the bitter end, but we nearly did! We rushed home right after the US team marched to catch the rest of it.
Wow! I'm so glad I didn't miss this after all -- easily my favorite opening ceremony ever.
(my only complaint -- did anyone see dragons? did I miss dragons? Or could they be saving dragons for the closing ceremonies...)