SATURDAY, JUNE 12, 2021 - SATURDAY STORY - MAKE A DIFFERENCE

 SATURDAY, JUNE 12, 2021

It was her best effort EVERY, but she crossed the line in fourth place.

***** 

SATURDAY JUNE 12, 2021 STORY

Faye Illyria was a fast runner in grade school and high school. At the University of Gambia, she continued her running prowess,  She set a Gambian record in the 100-meter dash for women that lasted 28 years.  The media called her “Flying Faye”.  She loved the 100-meter dash - “time to fly” she would say; but also ran the 200 meters, the 400 meters, the 4x100 relay, and the 4x400 relay.

In 1981, three years before the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles a new contract had been written with NBC television and the International Olympics Organizing Committee (IOC) that provided funds for third world countries like Gambia to fund athletes like Faye to participate in the Olympics.

Faye was one of four women and six men selected for the Gambian Olympic Team.  Although well educated with a double major in English and Political Science, she had only visited neighboring Senegal.  Fortunately, the formal language in Gambia and the University of Gambia was English. And, maybe working in her favor was that literacy in Gambia was 63.9% for males and 47.6% for females.  The Gambian Olympic committee decided that Faye would be a great athlete and a great representative for the Olympics in 1984 in Los Angeles.

Faye was overwhelmed - an expense paid trip to the United States and participating in the global athletic festival known as the Olympics!!!  She ran more than ever and pushed herself to go faster.

There were many meetings and appearances for Faye and the very first international Olympic team in Gambia.  Faye quietly became the heroine for young Gambian women.  She had a gentle laugh, a warm smile, and she “flew”. 

As the flight to Los Angeles neared, Faye was stressed out.  She would be going from Banjul International Airport to Brussels, and Brussels to Chicago, and finally to Los Angeles!!!  What would it be like?  It would be over 24 hours of travel.  Would she be out-of-place?  Would there be anybody to talk with other than her teammates?

The Olympic Village was the first stop after arriving in Los Angeles.  The Gambian team was in a hostel and shared the space with Nauru - a small island country in Oceania north of Australia; and Liechtenstein in Europe.  At first, Faye stayed pretty much with the Gambian group, but some of the Nauru runners were friendly.  On the third morning, Faye did her workout with Amoe from Nauru.  The Liechtenstein team knew others from Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Italy, and although friendly, were frequently out of the hostel.

 The women runners (especially outside of Europe, China, and America) were largely ignored as the men got more attention and those from the third world countries just found themselves grouped together.  Akinyi from Kenya bonded with Faye quickly.  Both were fast, record holders in their own countries, spoke English and were both very nice and occasionally a little brash!!!  

At the opening ceremony, Faye walked with the other nine athletes from Gambia.  Dawda Jallow carried the Gambian Flag.  Faye was almost floating on air - in Los Angeles, in the United States, in the Olympics, wearing Gambian garb.  The stadium was full and television beamed the show live around the world, including back to Gambia at 3:00 a.m. the next morning because of the time difference.

There were several heats in the 100-meter event to determine the finalists.  In the second heat for Faye, she finished second behind a Jamaican runner.  In the finals, she drew the outside lane - and giving her best came in fourth.  

The other events were not as good for the Gambian women.  In the 4x100 relay, Maturm fell when she got the baton from the second runner.  When Faye got the baton, Gambia was in last, and she made up some of the difference and the team finished ahead of two other teams, but not qualifying to go on.

Akinyi, her new friend from Kenya, did place third in the 200-meter run.  And, Faye was happy for her.

A small delegation of Gambian natives now living in Southern California did visit the team.  She found she had some friends that were related to some of these expatriates.    

With all the events, all the sightseeing, all the competing, the athletes were worn out by the closing ceremonies.  And, with some misgivings, Faye and the other Gambians boarded the United flight to Chicago. 

*****

But, time moves on.  Faye Illyria married, taught English, got involved in Politics in Gambia (as the first female ever to be on the Presidential cabinet).  

But, as she aged, she somehow became the image of a successful woman in Gambia.  She spoke in schools, she helped coach women runners and other Olympians.  She traveled frequently to other African countries (including Kenya where she met her friend Akinyi).  

Faye Illyria, a common college student who flew - only one person - worked hard to improve the life of Gambians, and of female Gambians.  

*****

Wrap-up

This is fiction but based on some real data.  One person did make a difference in this story.  (In reality, some Gambian athletes are in the government in Gambia).  

Can we be like this?  Can one person make a difference?  

Sure, I add, after all, Gambia is a small country.  But, Karen, I can’t do that in the United States - too many people, too much diversity.  

Hmm - I know some of you are really ‘givers’.  You’ve given weekends (and a lot more) taking teenage boys camping, or you have volunteered your time for the poor and homeless making sure they are fed and clothed.  You (and your husband) have helped young couples approach marriage.  You (as one person) CAN make a difference.  By your lives, you have shown others how to LOVE and we know that LOVE WINS!!!

I, likewise, CAN a difference -- through my writing, through my love and interaction!!!

LOVE DOES WIN.  

Hugs!!

Karen