My Glowing Heart

I think we all became a little more Canadian over the past few weeks...and for those of you who aren't Canadian, I'm sure you wished you were for at least most of February. And even though my Celine did not perform for either the Opening or the Closing Ceremonies (reports say she is trying to have another baby...you go girl!), I'm pretty sure I have never felt this proud to be Canadian...and I was pretty proud already! Proud in the most humble of respects, of course...I mean, I'm not going to get a(nother) maple leaf tattooed on me or anything! But that description of a 'glowing heart' really does it and, after the women's hockey team won their gold medal, I heard one of the athletes explain that she didn't feel pressure because Canadians don't pressure, they support. I love that! Obviously, we're always happy to just see a Canadian out there on the big stage and when they win, wow! But now, we've really made a name for ourselves and have only scratched the surface -- I can sense the legacy and momentum for all the kids out there who, in two, four, six and eight years down the road know that they too can excel because they are supported. And I think of my own nieces and nephews and the potential they have and wow...I'm excited!

I wanted to take a moment and share my highest of highlights from my time working at the Olympics. There were about a million highlights (yes, one million!) but these 8 really struck a chord and will be ingrained in me forever. Basically, the real reason they made the list was that they made (or still make) me cry. Whenever people accomplish something so beyond human potential, I always try to picture myself as them and what it would feel like. I imagine what it feels like to put your life on hold for years of training, what it feels like to know that you are loved no matter what the result but when you do win, you win for everyone who has ever had an impact on your path, and what it feels like to know that you have accomplished your full potential as an athlete. I just LOVE sport and all the dimensions and curve balls! Woo!

Right...the list. Here we go...!

1. The Opening Ceremony Rehearsal. What an epic event! Sitting on the edge of my seat, waiting for what surprise was next...anticipating that Celine was going to be the next performer. The visuals, lights, pictures, sounds...the confetti and leaves falling. The story of Canada, the diversity of Canada. Just terrific!

2. Joannie Rochette. Full stop. More than an inspiration. Especially now that the intensity of the Games is over, her new reality is just setting in. To skate is what she knew how to do, her comfort...but I still couldn't imagine the courage it must've taken to tie the laces and be focused for her performance. She nailed it when she said, "Mom's should live forever"...and that's all I have to say about that.

3. Women's 2-man bobsled Medal Ceremony (Canada: Gold AND Silver)! I remember

watching the races on tv and the story how the girl who won silver this time missed a medal last Olympics by like, one-one-hundredth of a second...and then we win a gold too! The day of the medal presentation I saw one of the girls in the athletes village who won the silver and I cheered for her and she was all excited and it was cool! Plus, on the day of the ceremony the Canadian women's hockey team had JUST won the gold (and I watched the last 5 minutes on the big screen with the crowds in Whistler before running to the line to get in for the medal ceremony...!). It was crazy and I'll explain more later as this ties into my next moment. But the medal ceremony was just AWESOME! So many flags and cheering and HUGE cameras and cameras on a huge boom an arms reach over my head...and the symphony sound as the athletes are paraded to the podium to receive their medals (which shine and sparkle SOO much!)...all of this is just so great! It's standing room only and it's a tight fit! It's just a really cool thing to be able to see your country's flag (or two!) be raised by the RCMP and hear everyone sing the anthem!

And then they came out on stage and danced with the band that was playing that night! Jimmy Fallon opened and introduced them...it was pretty cool. The band was called the Roots and they apparently are the house band for Jimmy Fallon's show. Say no to drugs, kids...seriously.

4. Ben singing the national anthem for when the Women's hockey team won. So, on this same day as mentioned above, I watched the end of the women's hockey game but then had to run to the other end of the village to get in the standby line for the medal ceremony thus sacrificing me seeing (and crying to) the presentation of medals to the hockey girls (it gets me every time!). Anyway, Karen had facebooked me if I was going to the ceremony and I didn't get a chance to reply so, once I got into the venue for the ceremony, I gave them a call and wouldn't you know it...it was at the MOMENT that the anthem was being played!!!! So she put the phone to the tv and that got the tears a flowing...and then at the end of the anthem, she put the phone to Benny who was singing along and that just set me off!!! Tears streaming (almost bouncing) down my face...in public, no less!! And THEN, after I had a chance to talk to everyone in the family, Karen snagged the phone to the tv again for the "Believe" song that turns my faucet on regardless of the situation but did BIG TIME this night as I was picturing the video montage of the hockey!!! Hilarious, yet AWESOME! :) Thanks for that!

5. Men's hockey semi-final with Mom and Andrea. That save of Lu's at the end of the game....HELLO! It took me at LEAST 45 minutes to shake that one off! For more details, see my last post, 'life with a little more cowbell'. The cowbell was the moment here...would've been a mess without it!!

6. Speed skating -- men and women. The support and excitement behind it all was an incredible drama...and I loved it! Not to mention the sheer size of their quads brings tears to my eyes but what they can do with them and how competitive they were was awesome to see...the not so nice Canadian way. Digging in to win...most of them were French too...I don't know what that means! The one I really remember was the long track team pursuit. I was in town again and all of a sudden I could hear the big tv at the base of the mountain building some excitement. Canada vs. USA...first one across the line wins. A big crowd was forming too and encouraging the guys from miles away. My favourite part was when you could see the guys fatiguing, they just gave each other a little push by putting their hand on the back of the guy in front of them. You could just see that they wanted it and were so determined to get it...and when they did cross the line a huge elation broke out...and so did my tears! Ha! Since I was all by myself, I decided to move on to the bus and get home because I could feel the emotion just boiling inside. Plus, I had to get back for the men's curling final...which leads to number 7.

7. Oh Canada. I can't remember what end it was in...I think the 9th...when the crowd just started singing Oh Canada right in the middle of the play! The players just stopped and let it happen before throwing another stone. What a moment! And when they won?!?! I think I cried three separate times. I mean, I've watched curling for probably 10 years or more and I know Kevin Martin and what he's gone through and won and not won...and he was an old guy (no offense old guys) playing with young guys (a good looking third, I might add!)! It was just so cool how they did it and how they celebrated. Loved it!

8. Oh, my number 8. I'll be lucky if I even get through typing this without crying! All I have to say is Sydney Crosby. When that puck went into the net...I've never been so excited!! I was jumping up and down for what seemed forever! And I was screaming and clapping and jumping and, and, and! It all goes back to my first comment about putting myself in their position and imagining what it would feel like...to score the OT game winning goal in the Olympic FINAL for a GOLD medal (at 22 years old!!!)!!!! And what it meant for every Canadian watching! For the rest of that evening, I was walking around trying to do some audits and keep busy but I kept reliving that goal and I honestly teared up every single time! And every time thereafter! And into the next day when I saw the highlights in the dining tent...same thing...even today! One of my American co-workers saw me get all emotional yesterday from seeing the highlights and she said to me, 'well, for this reason, I'm really glad you guys won because I definitely wouldn't have this type of reaction to it'. For whatever reason, it really means something to me when people accomplish such great things and bring so much joy to other people by doing what they love.

I guess that's sport. People doing what they love against people who are doing what they love for people who love watching what people love. So, basically, people, love people who love people no matter what the score.

I love you people!