I absolutely cannot believe that the Vancouver 2010 Olympics will have started this time tomorrow! I remember hearing about them being held and saying that if I am still in Canada, I am going! Well, I won't be making it, but I sure have been able to experience the Olympic spirit in Calgary. It's been a once in a lifetime experience for me and I am so grateful that the Lord is allowing me to be a part of this historic time. Until you experience it, it's hard to explain. Just take my word for it.
This Olympics holds a special place in my heart because I lived in the Vancouver area for the summer of 98, while serving at Royal Heights Baptist Church in Delta, near Vancouver. It was that summer that I wondered if I would be back in Canada one day. I made friends there that are some of my best ones to this day and I consider Vancouver like my second home. I will be watching this Olympics with excitement and gratitude!
I got to see the torch as it came through Calgary and Cochrane. What an incredible experience! Some friends and I went downtown to Olympic Plaza as the flame made an overnight stop in Calgary. I live in the city that hosted the 88 Winter Olympics, so Calgary knows what this is all about. I believe the Olympic Plaza was where medal ceremonies were held in 88. It's used as an outdoor ice rink and for various city festivities.
WE GOT TO SEE THE CAULDRON, JUST AFTER IT WAS LIT BY THE FLAME!
GREAT TIMES WITH FRIENDS AS WE CELEBRATE AT OLYMPIC PLAZA TOGETHER!
Two days after the Olympic Plaza event, the torch came through Cochrane, the town where I work and lived while I was in seminary. A good number of us from work took an early extended lunch to experience this historic event. It was neat to meet up with Cochrane friends in this town of less than 20,000. We lined the streets and watched as the torch bearer passed by us. Wow! Double wow when we realized the torch was being passed to the next torch bearer just up the road from where we were standing! On our way back to the vehicle, we went to Main Street (we had been at another street), and watched the torch again...and as it was passed to yet another torch bearer! Wow, wow, wow! This was a neat moment because I could see the emotion on the bearer's face.
MY DEAR FRIEND/CO-WORKER, CAROL, AND ME SHOW OFF OUR OLYMPIC MITTENS...JUST LIKE THE TORCH BEARERS AND ATHLETES WEAR!
I'm sitting here now watching the news and the pre-Olympic coverage. Too think things will have gotten kicked off by this time tomorrow. I cannot wait!
Some folks have asked which country I will be cheering for...well, Canada and the US! But how will I decide when the teams meet in hockey!? I may just have to be neutral, though it's really hard not to cheer for Canada when you're living here and it's the host country!
"O Canada...
"O say can you see...
No comments:
Post a Comment