One More Time

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I am sitting on my sofa, feet tucked under me, pen and paper in hand, yes old school, writing this blog. In the background my really tall 2 foot Christmas tree is twinkling and my electric fire place is crackling, no wait that’s the really old heating pipes in this place. My bags are packed by my front door with care in the hopes my Uber soon will be there, ha-ha. Nope I am not on my way home for Christmas, at least not yet but I am headed out to another Olympic Trials.

Tomorrow I start the Olympic Trials for my Mixed Doubles team. It’s a new event in the Olympics, first time ever, so that’s really exciting. Mixed Doubles is one guy, one girl, 5 rocks thrown and a whole lot of fun, very fast paced.

My partner is Korey Dropkin and we have been playing together for 2 seasons now. We get along well and our team dynamics seem to work for us. We don’t take each other too seriously and because of that we can keep it loose on the ice. Korey laughingly says our team works because I talk and he listens but that’s only half true.

We are similar in our approach to the sport; we both work really hard to be the best. We unfortunately don’t get too much time to practice together because I am in St Paul and he is in Duluth, so we do a lot individually and then plan team practice around all our other curling. Curling all day, every day, team motto!

 

Unfortunately we both recently lost the Olympic Trials finals for our men’s and women’s teams. We both understand how the other feels right now; maybe something to prove, but mostly we just want to get back out there. We are fired up and ready for battle. This is curling and anything can happen!

So off I go to another arena, another opening ceremonies and another chance to go to the Olympics in 2018.

Why do I keep putting myself through this after being completely gutted last time? The drive to compete, to wear our flag, to be the best I can be is simply greater than my fear of failure…..or maybe I’m a bit nuts, jury is still out.  Either way I am pushing forward, doing my best and enjoying the battle.

Wish me luck!

Jamie

8 thoughts on “One More Time”

  3. Jamie, thank you for sharing your life & thoughts so openly with all of us — we share your appreciation for curling. You have given us a big part of yourself on your journey. How could we not feel so much affection for you? Your humor, charm, light-heartedness, and talent are engaging! You are a truly beautiful person. When I first saw you, met your brothers, and learned many curling details on the videos, I said to myself, “Her arms are open for us, and her hand is out-stretched for friendship.” That is a gift, and it is what is best about curling. The fellowship of play and good-sportsmanship make it fun. And you, dear, are funny! I laugh so much listening to you! But I know from watching you curl, you are serious & intent on winning. Like you said to me, “I love the battle.” It is true, Jamie. For you to achieve already this calibre of recognized success is remarkable. I am so grateful to meet you and have the privilege to watch your athletic success grow from all your hard work. I pray for you daily — in gratitude for you, your family, your friends, and for your success in growing the sport of curling in the good old USA. Like we said when we talked in Duluth, we both want more clubs built so people can learn the balance between competition & respect for an opponent. When you give your best and want your competitors best, everyone improves their skill, and the game becomes bigger than all of us. No one wins every game, and no one loses all the time. Each end is a challenge and opportunity. And it is a sport that spans centuries! Which is exactly why I am so grateful to make your acquaintance in my lifetime, watch you play, and be your fan. You lift my heart because you do what you do so well and with such professional charm. It will matter in years to come what you have said and done in our sport as you become a more public person in our country. Know this: as long as I am alive on this planet, I am forever a grateful fan of curling and a friend to you. You have given me so much joy already by carrying my hopes for your team’s national championship and, hopefully, the Olympics. I am with you; I’m like a mouse in your pocket. God bless you, Jamie. You are simply what is best about curling. Go ahead and make us more proud!

  4. Good luck Jamie. We’ll be watching from afar this time, but engaged in every respect each step of the way. One game at a time, one end at a time, one rock at a time. You two can do it and there’s nobody better suited to represent!

  5. You are a blessing to the sport, couldn’t think of a better ambassador for Curling.
    Always found the sport fun to watch; although I’d never heard of you before then, I chose your team to root for during that heartbreaking team trial recently. Tough loss; but, i still think I chose the right team.
    That did lead me to looking up curling related stuff on You Tube, which led me to your You Tube channel.
    You seem to have a great love for the sport, determination to keep getting better, willingness to share your knowledge with others, and an incredible personality — GREAT combination there.
    Wishing you much success and satisfaction in your career. Also wishing you a very Merry Christmas!
    Kindly,
    Steve

    1. Thank you so much Steve! It was heartbreaking to say the least but we will only be back stronger! Stay tuned 🙂

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