We need to start this week's column on another sad note. Tony Gonzales, who wrestled as the Masked Medic, passed away this week. He was to be honored at the Gulf Coast Reunion in Mobile but was found dead at his home. Services are in Texas this week. Please remember Tony in your prayers. Rest in Peace, my friend.--Percival

As we boarded the plane from Toledo express airport to connect with our flight from Cincinnati to Salt Lake, I had a familiar feeling, as I had just come through the same airport just the day before coming back from Las Vegas.

Nancy had won a trip to the Winter Olympics through her employer, Gordon Food Service. She had excelled beyond expectations the previous year and had won Associate of the Year at her store and also had gotten elected into the GOLD CLUB. It is the elite payoff for the best in the business. For the most part, the odds of winning this crown are 1-2000. There were winners from the four divisions of store territories.

As we stood on the stage at the Amway Grand Hotel in Grand Rapids, Michigan on December 8th, my knees started to shake, and I had butterflies in my stomach as they read, "The winner and marketplace person of the year is Nancy Friend from the Maumee store." I couldn't believe my own ears that Nancy had pulled off such a great prize. Hard work does pay off in the long run, despite all the health problems that Nancy had been through during 2001. I am very proud of her accomplishments.

Coming up to the gate and exiting the small ComAir aircraft, we hurriedly went into the terminal to be taken to the main Delta concourse in another building. We boarded a huge bus, and, in a few moments, we were in the much bigger building which houses the terminus for Delta. We proceeded to our gate and began the short wait until the huge 767 would be boarded.

Time seemed to whisk itself by, and soon we were going on board the huge aircraft that would take us to the Olympics. As we took our seats, a crowd of people came towards us and began to introduce themselves. They were the part of the group that also would be spending the week with us in Utah. They were Jim & Bonnie Gordon, Jeff & Emily Rohm, and Steve Ripley, our trip coordinator.

We would meet the other two couples, Dave & Char Gray and Larry & Nan Lewis, at the Chateau in Park City later that afternoon as they were coming in from Traverse City.

Following a rather smooth flight, we landed in Salt Lake City. I had not been there since I went in 1973 from Amarillo to wrestle in the Salt Palace. We got into three vans and proceeded up towards the Wasatch Mountains and Park City. Nancy and I rode with Jim and Bonnie Gordon for the 30-mile ride. We shared a lot of humor and respect for each other during that first leg of our trip. I am certainly glad that I had this quiet, quality time with the Gordons.

We arrived at Bessie Lou (pictured above) and began to go to our assigned bedrooms. These rooms, by the way, are bigger than most family rooms in an average home. Ours had a marvelous view of the cascading mountains that were very snow covered. It had a double shower with a steam room as well as two walk-in closets and a huge king-sized bed. It also had a huge armoire that contained a large-screen television. Some of the rooms even had a Jacuzzi in them, along with huge, thick, heavy furniture and accessories.

A short time later, Larry and Nan, along with Dave and Char, arrived from Traverse City, and we readied ourselves for a wonderful evening. At roughly 8 p.m., we went to The Blind Dog. It is a local eating place that would put itself on the same level as most five-star restaurants. They had a menu that would excel most of the finer eateries in Beverly Hills. Our group of 11 was treated with the best time we had ever had by a wonderful waiter that paid close attention to everyone's wishes.

When the meal was finished and we were getting ready for dessert, he started to give Nancy a shoulder massage to try and make her mind up as to what she wanted to eat. I asked him jokingly if he wanted to take over payments. He caught what I was saying and told us that he was planning to be married soon but that this was Utah, and laughing as he said it, he might be able to consider more than one spouse.

We retired back to Bessie Lou to spend a few quiet hours getting to know each other a little better. Before you knew it, 12 midnight (2 a.m. EST) had descended upon us, and I retired to bed, very relaxed and satisfied that I had spent the best day of my life with these new friends from the Gordon family of employees.

Tuesday morning, we started out by having breakfast at Bessie Lou and then going to the Olympic Park to watch the downhill skiers in action. What a rush it was, seeing these men come from all over the world to challenge each other to see who would be the best and come away with the Gold. One by one, they came down the hill, going further and further down the side of the mountain. At 11 a.m., we had to leave, as the entire group was going snowmobiling in the nearby mountains high above Park City.

Redpine Adventures were our guides and took us up the mountain to about the 7000-foot level by van to access the snowmobiles. Eric and Brian were our official escorts for the trip. Each of us had been outfitted with a suit, helmet and boots for the climate. We had our pick of the more than 25 sleds parked in the trail start.

We were given a 10-cent tour of how the Polaris snowmobiles ran and some of the safety features, and then we were led in a trail towards the meadows at an elevation of some 7500 feet. After about an hour of trying the hills out, we all stopped and had lunch on the side of the mountain. Following lunch, we ascended to 8500 feet and got some great pictures with Park City almost 3000 feet below us.

Then, we went to 9500 feet and did some more running around on the snowmobiles. We returned about three hours after we started a little worse for wear. I had tipped the heavy Polaris on top of me going around a clump of trees and buried myself in the near 60 inch snow base on the mountain. I had popped the windscreen off the front and was very lucky that I did not do more damage to the sled. It was very easily repaired, and I returned to my fun in the snow.

We then returned to Bessie Lou, where we would leave a short time later for Salt Lake City to watch men and women speed skating. Arriving at the Delta Center, we were amazed to find that a suite had been reserved for us to view the event. The first to skate were the women. My first impression of them was what huge legs they had. Even from high above the Arena floor, I could tell that these women from all parts of the world were not to be messed with.

Next came the men, and what a sight to see these guys skating in unison with each other as if they were in a boat and moving the oars in one fluid movement. The highlight for the evening was seeing the U.S. team win the race following a huge pile up of skaters that took one of the nations out of the competition by way of disqualification.

We finished up the evening by going back to Bessie Lou and having a huge dinner of Filet Mignon and Baked Chicken that was prepared by the ladies of our trip. Before we knew it, 1 a.m. had come upon us, and we went our separate ways to bed.

To be continued...

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