i like this version even better.. thanks for sharing...
that is the truth...
we want to see a happy Patrick, with clean programs we can watch over and over and over, forever and forever...
I quoted the part about Patrick "wanting to enjoy it" from the other article, but I like this next sentence and next paragraph a lot:
"I need to have a realistic goal in order to enjoy it.”
He’s always struck a proficient balance between athletics and artistry on the ice. It’s now his off-ice mantra, too, as he prepares for life after competitive skating. It has given him the necessary perspective to take control of how this final year is going to unfold. On his terms.
And this explanation of his goals for the Olympics is good (not new, just put into a nice tidy paragraph). Yes, Patrick, it does make sense:
“This being a third Olympics, I want to perform with a feeling of complete control of my situation, and really having made the decision thinking about my personal well being and my personal enjoyment of performing, if that makes any sense,” he said.
And the wording of this sentence made me so happy and sad at the same time. I hope Patrick skates in shows for years to come, like his buddy Kurt:
That was no recipe for an enjoyable goodbye tour, so he trimmed the list.
Also, I need to retract what I posted here the other day about how Patrick "took Nebelhorn away from me." It's true that I would have liked to see his programs at Nebelhorn. But later it occurred to me that, in reality, I never go back and watch his Finlandia programs from last season. I tend to pick one of each program, maybe two, to re-watch. (Chopin, though, I love to watch three different ones - JO because he skated so well his first time on competitive ice since the Olympics, surprising himself and us; SC because of the comeback, happy smiles and tears, and what he overcame; 4CC because he hit every note of the music, the jumps were pristine, and he showed he could two 3As again, plus the ice slap and genuine shock that he barely won). My point is, if we are going to ultimately look back on one DITW and one Hallelujah, they probably wouldn't have been from Nebelhorn. The more times he competes, the more chances he has to work the kinks out, but he's got two GPs, Nationals, and Olympics (where he'll also do one or both programs in the Team Event), and possibly the GPF. Even not counting GPF, there are several chances for those "perfect program moments." I think we'll be okay without Nebelhorn, especially since Patrick himself is striving to be calmer and more relaxed and comfortable at each outing. I wrote a blog post once where I said that I was extra grateful for 2013 TEB because of what happened in Sochi. Wherever our magical DITW and Hallelujah happen, we will celebrate them for the gifts that they are. :yes: