The Olympic Games are over.

I watched about enough of the competition that I was interested in — mainly track and field, basketball and volleyball.

While the games register winners and losers, it is my opinion that there are no losers.

It is no small feat to represent your country in the games.

It takes thousands of hours of practice, dedication, and sometimes luck to get on the Olympic team.

I don’t recall ever personally meeting an Olympic competitor from any country.

A shirttail relative of mine was determined that their young daughter would someday make the team in gymnastics.

They poured thousands of dollars in travel expenses and trainers.

In the end it became more of their effort than their daughter’s and it failed.

While living in Boise we had a neighbor whose boy competed in the mile run in school sports.

He was midway in high school at the time and would get up at five every morning to run. He did this on his own. I remember he got his ime down to 4 minutes and 11 seconds.

He won his share of high school races. His parents, while encouraging, didn’t get in the way. I remember talking with the boy, a really impressive lad.

I thought that someday this boy would make it to the top.  Four minutes and 11 seconds isn’t a bad mile run time for a 17-year-old boy.

Well, he graduated and ended up getting a girlfriend and that became the end of his mile training.

It’s all a reminder how difficult it is to make the Olympic team.

So in my book, all are winners, as well as those dedicated athletes who pushed them to their selection.

The Bill of Rights doesn’t include one for stupidity.

The country needs a little common sense.

Governors who are pushing the anti-vaccine message need to be voted out of office. The states of Florida, Texas and Missouri are prime examples of what is wrong in this country.

If you are unvaccinated, stay away from me.

Some antis are finding out what it means to get the virus, and some have been speaking out.

Seems some states are more concerned with having enough body bags than with the health and welfare of its citizens.

I was pleased to read that our own school district here is mandating masks this fall for the opening of school.

Our local counties don’t have the best record for vaccinations.

Nationally, we are in for some difficult times because of the virus.

We don’t have to copy that here locally.

Get vaccinated.

The Bill of Rights doesn’t include one for stupidity.