Beijing Olympics Take Me Back

Olympics Opening Ceremonies in Beijing again. Last time was Summer 2008 and this takes me back.

I distinctly remember watching them in 2008 - I was on several months worth of tours that year with a new record, and jobless. So for gas/existence money between tour legs I signed up to get paid to be a medical test volunteer.

I did this several times. Pills, blood draws, fluorescent hum, overnight stays in a dorm-like facility. Took meds early in human trials for Crohn’s or Diverticulitis and hoped I didn’t puke because if I puked I was out and wouldn’t get paid. Dozens of people around me of all walks. Separated at night and of course the usual handful of doofuses who’d keep everybody up in the barrack with fart noises and going on.

So that’s where I was during the Beijing Summer Olympics 2008. Eating high calorie breakfasts in a medical lab, cartons of milk that turned my stomach sideways. Taking mystery medicine, and the days were spent bound at my desk, aromas of band-aids waft past. Sitting at my laptop booking shows two tour legs out, nervous for the phlebotomist to circle back around. Don’t puke, don’t puke. Get back on the road!