So Nastia Liukin was at some awards show that had something to do with sports, which makes sense, when she does show up on the red carpet it is usually at least sports adjacent.  I am always glad to see her because I like her and it’s rare for her to show up.  I guess I am glad she is still… I am not sure what the word is.  That life is still affording her certain opportunities.  Like I know she was part of NBC’s coverage of the Olympics and I hope that continues just because she seems like a pretty decent person and also because I hate the way society often spits out Olympic Athletes.  We all struggle with getting older and opportunities passing us by and just there being fewer options but it has always stuck me as especially cruel to the high level athlete, who is old before the rest of us, none more so than female gymnasts.  I have gone down this territory a very long time ago, when Nastia’s shoulder did her in and she missed the cut to make the team at the old age of 19.  It seems like a cruel fate and I remember at some point later that year when I posted her someone reblogged with comments about how pathetic she was for trying to hang on to fame and she should just give up.  It struck me as exceptionally mean spirited to tell a girl of 20 to just pack it in and give up on life.  I get that sometimes we are tired of seeing certain people in the public eye but everyone needs to work.  I am reminded of Patrick Stewart recalling how angry he got when people were implying Star Trek was beneath him when he first started on the show.  Reporters I mean in interviews.  They thought they were sympathizing with them but it angered him and his whole point was what do they expect?  He has to work.  He had a family.  He also said no work is beneath you unless you make it so, you can give your all to anything an elevate it.  That takes us a bit far afield.  My point is a young woman who has spent her entire life doing a thing and then she suddenly can’t anymore before she’s 20, I applaud her for trying to find something else.  We all do a lot of searching and trying to find what to do.  I guess I don’t understand begrudging people that. Especially because I can think of have been chewed up and spit out when they became “washed up” at 19.  So I think part of this is just that I am always pleased to see her doing stuff, it’s a reminder that hey, things are ok.  I am glad.  I mean, she represented my country.  I’ll be honest, I am prouder of the way Olympic athletes have represented my country than a lot of people who represent us.  Also she’s very pretty.  Today I want to fuck Nastia Liukin