No-lympics

Friday was a melancholy day. The skies were gray, there was a chilly bite to the air, and the city of Chicago discovered that it will not host the 2016 Summer Olympic Games.

I work a couple of blocks from the Daley Center, so I walked over with some work pals to hear the results. Despite the weather, there was excitement in the air. We arrived at 10:45, expecting to stand around for another hour or so to hear the final results. But as we picked our way through the hushed crowd, the announcement was made that Chicago did not make it past the first round of voting.

We stopped. We stared at each other. Following a collective gasp, the crowd grew silent — completely silent — for a few long seconds. I wondered if I had heard correctly or if there had been a mistake. As the news sunk in, there were mumbles and sighs and whispers.

Bummer, dudes.

And then we walked back to the office.