The scene at this moment: a crowd is waiting to watch Michael Phelps swim his last race. On one couch is Peio (from Spain), Julia (from Berlin and Lexington), Stephen (from Virginia). Next to them is Benjamin's good friend Mike from Boston. Alissa and David (from Australia) share a chair. Benjamin and Yael (from Israel) share a spot on the other couch, with Anna and Rebecca rounding out the front row. Jon and I are in the back row. Rebecca is doing all the google research, every time there is a question, and she fills in lots of other back story in between. There is lots of commentary and conjecture and joking, but everyone is focused on the events.
Outside there is swampy, heavy heat -- if you go outside, it feels like you are walking into a hot, wet pillow. Thank goodness for air conditioning. We are oblivious tonight, talking about Simone Biles and Michael Phelps and Katy Ledecky. We are enjoying our role as comfortable, scarcely educated armchair commentators.
Both the U.S. men and the women just won their relays. We take satisfaction in being part of the American cheering squad.
Tomorrow about half of this crowd will be loading up for market and some of them will be doing school work. And I will be outside for most of the day, as wet as the swimmers, but without the benefit of all that athleticism.
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