Olympic Pride

There is something about the Olympics that brings my emotions out. The Winter Olympics are in Vacouver, BC this year. It is only the 3rd time that an Olympic Games has been held in Canada and it is the 3rd time that I have been able to participate in some of the celebrations.

In 1988, the Olympics were held in Calgary. The torch came through Lethbridge and the father of one of our friends was one of the torch bearers. I remember venturing up to Calgary and seeing a medal ceremony at Olympic Plaza. Karin Lee-Gartner won bronze in one of the skiing events.

We were living in Salt Lake City in 2002 when the Olympics happened there. Again, we saw the torch as it came by our apartment. However, they closed the University of Utah down for a month or so during the Olympics. We decided to escape the craziness and security to get into our own parking lot and came home to enjoy some good ol' CBC Olympic coverage.

This year, we saw yet another Olympic flame ignite the excitement and pride in our community. This time, it was my children with eyes full of amazement and excitement as we watched the flame come down the street.

In every instance, seeing the Olympic flame and feeling the united spirit of everyone around really touches me. I can feel the lump in my throat as the torch is proudly held high on the relay. I cry when I see a lifetime of dreams shattered in a split second. I cry as I see athletes win and fulfill a lifetime of goals. I cry watching medal ceremonies. (Yep, I'm a blubbering fool....) A friend informed of this video and again, that lump in my throat was there again. Here is a bit of the 2010 Torch Relay in Lethbridge.

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Go, Canada, Go!!