The Olympic Torch Relay began today. Is Canada excited?
I got invited (along with million others) to join the world's "longest wave". Petro Canada is broadcasting people on webcam doing the wave. You can view it here. But seriously...I want to be there!! Not doing the wave in my living room. Is that too much to ask?
I think I was excited in 1988 when Calgary hosted. From where I am presently sitting, I can see my "Share The Flame" book from the '88 Torch Relay.
So, we have another Torch Relay in this country...and it makes me want to cry rather than cheer.
At the moment, I can't imagine wanting to buy a book about the 2010 Torch Relay if I'm not part of it. I can barely watch the news about it. I feel that I should be excited about the torch arriving in my home country...about us hosting the Games. I was so excited when it was first announced (at the time I thought I would be there)...but now it makes me want to cry...thinking that I won't be a part of our home Olympics.
Don't get me wrong. I'm not bitter enough to not want to go to the Toronto celebrations when the Torch arrives (it's been on my calendar all year - although it's been in my calendar with the assumption that I would be carrying the torch...but it's still in my calendar now that I know I won't).
The relay is described as reaching most Canadians...going within an hour or of 90% of Canadians. At the moment, I want to find a friend who will be carrying the Flame and go cheer him/her on wherever they are rather than watch a stranger carry the flame on Yonge Street at the end of my street!! I'm also planning on being downtown for the celebrations.
I have been on the mailing list for the games for a couple of years. I looked into getting tickets when they first went on sale, then chickened out when I realized how much it would cost for a family of 4 to go to Vancouver for the Games.
I mentioned on an earlier post about the dreams I listed in 1996. One was to attend the Olympic Games.
In 2008, I amended that dream to running in the Torch Relay (instead of attending). I figured this was a more realistic goal. At the time, it never occurred to me that I wouldn't be chosen. I figured that for my dream to be to go to the Olympics...running in the relay would be so much easier...no travelling involved...and really, being involved with the Olympics is my destiny, right?
Apparently not!
I am still trying to make this dream a reality...but it's not easy.
The relay was depressing me...except that two of my favourite Olympians got to carry the torch today...Simon Whitfield and Alexandre Despatie...that brought a smile to my face.
(not my photo)
and really, if Simon Whitfield and Catriona Lemay Doan don't get the torch to themselves (and Alexandre Despatie and Silken Laumen get to share, what chance do I have?)
This post is changing to a chronological event...
7:52pm I start writing this blog
8:30pm my husband comes upstairs to ask me a question...but changes it to "have you been crying?"
I let him read the beginning of my blog...he starts to understand my mindset and is hugging me when the phone rings.
8:35pm our friend calls. I think he's calling because of my question I asked him about accommodation in Vancouver during the Olympic Games and whether it's a possibility if I could get a ticket (he said he would call me rather than email)...
When I get on the phone with him, I realize that he is calling because the Olympic Torch is about to reach where he is and he wants to share it with us.
I put him on speaker...we call the kids up and we all hear he, his family and friends cheering as they watch the Olympic Torch go by in Victoria.
Tears of joy this time!! So happy to see a wonderful friend experience the magic of the Olympic Flame!! I look forward to having my turn in a couple of months...even if I won't get to touch it.
Perfect timing?