Watching the Olympics & Trips Down Memory Lane

We hope that everyone will come down to this week’s Pathfinder Produce fruits and veggie market … we’ve got the freshest flavors around!  Believe it or not, school is gearing up in a few weeks and high school sports are starting practices now, so it’s always good to start planning for healthy and vitamin packed meals and snacks.  Here at Pathfinder, we’re looking forward to hosting some scholastic cross country events on the Pathfinder Community Trail … more details to follow! We hope to see you this Thursday, between 1 and 5 p.m. at the Village Commons at the next Pathfinder Produce. *** While I try to limit my television viewing, I readily admit that my generation was heavily influenced by the television era.  Occasionally, I succumb and watch broadcasts that are historic or culturally significant, like the Olympics. Where I live, we have no cable access, and we’ve gotten by watching what’s on over the internet.  However, it’s frustrating if you like sports, as the broadcasters always ask for your cable provider to log in to their websites.  Brick wall. So last night, as I wanted to see the Rio games, we figured out how to install a makeshift aerial for our TV.  With some patience, an old T-style FM antenna, and duct tape, we were able to get all variants of one of the Utica channels, 40 miles away.  (We disconnected everything at bedtime, just in case of thunderstorms).  MacGyver, eat your heart out! It reminded me very much of when I was a kid, BC (before cable), and every roof had an antenna to pull in snowy images on black-and-white consoles that were the focal point of living rooms.  We only got the Utica stations then too, but no one seemed to mind. So, last night, I watched the men’s and women’s hurdle races, some footage of Usain Bolt blazing through to his gold medal in the 100m, a bit of the pole vaulting, diving, and balance beam competitions.  Of course, it took me back to earlier Olympics -- Mark Spitz’s and Olga’s wins in 1972, Comaneci’s brilliance and Jenner’s Decathlon triumph in 1976, and America’s boycott of the 1980 Summer Games. (Just for fun, here’s the write up on Nadia’s and Bart’s 1996 wedding). Today’s Olympians, just like those of earlier generations, are extremely dedicated:  They not only push their bodies, but they have to pay strict attention to their diets.  Good nutrition and hydration are essential to performing well.  Obviously, most of us don’t work as hard as these athletes, but we should also regulate our eating habits to keep in synch with how physically active we are.  Until next time, enjoy the games, and keep active.  Be well! Lori