With Glowing Hearts

I couldn't post this yesterday because I was still basking in the glory and absorbing the wonderfulness that is our men’s hockey Olympic GOLD MEDAL WIN!!!!!

When I woke up Sunday morning I just knew…. I could feel it. I knew there was no way I was going to bed disappointed that night and I think the whole country could feel it. This was our year. Canada was coming out of a 4 medal (3 of which were gold) day, we had tied the record for most gold medals won in any winter Olympics and the country had pulled together like never before. We were finally proving to the world how amazing Canada really is and how much we truly love our country. Patriotic? YOU BETCHA! I find it interesting that so many people were so surprised at our level of patriotism. We love our country and we want the world to know it. It’s the best country in the world.

I saw an interview with a US speed skater who said, “I’ve never seen anything like it. I thought we [American’s] were patriotic… but it’s nothing like this”.

If you watched any of the events you saw nothing but a sea of red, white and Canadian flags. Hundreds of spontaneous outbursts of O’Canada were heard in the middle of curling matches, interrupting television interviews and in the middle of the street for seemingly no reason at all! The level of pride we felt and are still feeling is completely indescribable. Several television segments dedicated entirely to the unity and patriotism the country was experiencing, not only in Vancouver but across the entire country, still can’t explain what was happening to Canadians.

I was an emotional and nervous wreck for the duration of the Olympics. It started the night of the opening ceremonies and didn’t end until the closing. It took over my life for two weeks and I loved every minute of it.

First, the commercials. I’ve never had so many television commercials make me cry in such a short span of time….

From the Canadian Tire “First Skate” commercial to the Sidney Crosby/Tim Horton’s “Wouldn’t it be Amazing” commercial, I spent a lot of teary moments on my couch. Any commercial or footage with the “I Believe” theme brought me to tears…. and don’t get me started on the “CTV Difference Makers” segments.

And I can't leave out those commercials that had the ability to get the entire country pumped up.... "Whose Game" and "Force Fate" are the best examples of those.

My favorite moments:
-Alexandre Bilodeau wins our first gold on home soil.  His reaction and his brothers reaction.... incredible.
-Charles Hamlin wins gold and hops the boards to hug his girlfriend (also an Olympic medalist)
-Clara Hughes wins bronze in the final race of her career
-Spontaneous O'Canada during the mens curling game
-Women's hockey gold and the whole place erupts into O'Canada
-MENS GOLD MEDAL GAME!--> The icing on the cake of an already beyond incredible Olympics and the ultimate victory.  The OT goal scored by Sidney Crosby (fed from none other than my boy Jarome Iginla) was the sweetest way to win that game.

And for those of you wondering... 

-beaver tails are one of the best Canadian treats you'll ever have, and no... they are not real beaver tails.

-those athletes that were accused of not knowing our national anthem? They were singing it in FRENCH!

-we weren't booing our own goalie Roberto Luongo... it's "Louuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu".

- and yes.... here, it's Zed, not Zee.

So, as much as my nerves need the break and my body needs the sleep I am disappointed that the Olympics are over.  It was an incredible two weeks that pulled our country together in the most amazing way possible and I hope it can last.  I was so proud to be a Canadian, just as I always am.  This is truly the best Country in the world and I will never live anywhere else.

We Are More- Shane Koyczan (Van 2010 Opening Ceremonies)

  

you might shake a tree in the fall

and call a red leaf Canada

you might rattle off some celebrities

might mention Buffy Sainte-Marie

might even mention the fact that we've got a few

Barenaked Ladies

or that we made these crazy things

like zippers

electric cars

and washing machines

when defining Canada

it seems the world's anthem has been

" been there done that"

and maybe that's where we used to be at

it's true

we've done and we've been

we've seen

all the great themes get swallowed up by the machine

and turned into theme parks

but when defining Canada

don't forget to mention that we have set sparks

we are not just fishing stories

about the one that got away

we do more than sit around and say "eh?"

and yes

we are the home of the Rocket and the Great One

who inspired little number nines

and little number ninety-nines

but we're more than just hockey and fishing lines

off of the rocky coast of the Maritimes

and some say what defines us

is something as simple as please and thank you

and as for you're welcome

well we say that too

but we are more

than genteel or civilized

we are an idea in the process

of being realized

we are young

we are cultures strung together

then woven into a tapestry

and the design

is what makes us more

than the sum total of our history

we are an experiment going right for a change

with influences that range from a to zed

and yes we say zed instead of zee

we are the colours of Chinatown and the coffee of Little Italy

we dream so big that there are those

who would call our ambition an industry

because we are more than sticky maple syrup and clean snow

we do more than grow wheat and brew beer

we are vineyards of good year after good year

we reforest what we clear

because we believe in generations beyond our own

knowing now that so many of us

have grown past what used to be

we can stand here today

filled with all the hope people have

when they say things like "someday"

someday we'll be great

someday we'll be this

or that

someday we'll be at a point

when someday was yesterday

and all of our aspirations will pay the way

for those who on that day

look towards tomorrow

and still they say someday

we will reach the goals we set

and we will get interest on our inspiration

because we are more than a nation of whale watchers and lumberjacks

more than backpacks and hiking trails

we are hammers and nails building bridges

towards those who are willing to walk across

we are the lost-and-found for all those who might find themselves at a loss

we are not the see-through gloss or glamour

of those who clamour for the failings of others

we are fathers brothers sisters and mothers

uncles and nephews aunts and nieces

we are cousins

we are found missing puzzle pieces

we are families with room at the table for newcomers

we are more than summers and winters

more than on and off seasons

we are the reasons people have for wanting to stay

because we are more than what we say or do

we live to get past what we go through

and learn who we are

we are students

students who study the studiousness of studying

so we know what as well as why

we don't have all the answers

but we try

and the effort is what makes us more

we don't all know what it is in life we're looking for

so keep exploring

go far and wide

or go inside but go deep

go deep

as if James Cameron was filming a sequel to The Abyss

and suddenly there was this location scout

trying to figure some way out

to get inside you

because you've been through hell and high water

and you went deep

keep exploring

because we are more

than a laundry list of things to do and places to see

we are more than hills to ski

or countryside ponds to skate

we are the abandoned hesitation of all those who can't wait

we are first-rate greasy-spoon diners and healthy-living cafes

a country that is all the ways you choose to live

a land that can give you variety

because we are choices

we are millions upon millions of voices shouting

" keep exploring... we are more"

we are the surprise the world has in store for you

it's true

Canada is the "what" in "what's new?"

so don't say "been there done that"

unless you've sat on the sidewalk

while chalk artists draw still lifes

on the concrete of a kid in the street

beatboxing to Neil Young for fun

don't say you've been there done that

unless you've been here doing it

let this country be your first-aid kit

for all the times you get sick of the same old same old

let us be the story told to your friends

and when that story ends

leave chapters for the next time you'll come back

next time pack for all the things

you didn't pack for the first time

but don't let your luggage define your travels

each life unravels differently

and experiences are what make up

the colours of our tapestry

we are the true north

strong and free

and what's more

is that we didn't just say it

we made it be.

is that we didn't just say it

we made it be.