Pride Ongoing

It's March 2010.  There is an exciting feeling around.  The air is swimming with spring flowers on the edge of full bloom.  Vancouver this time of year is the butterfly breaking out of the cacoon.  It's earlier than usual..  The Olympic games round one has ended with the Paralympic gearing to go just around the corner.  The electricity comes from the Vancouver Olympic experience. 
I'm still catching up on the reviews most of them good from the wake of the games.

My pride for our town is pretty huge.  I feel like my family and I did good.  The city did good.  It's like all of us Vancouverites held hands and lifted the games and our city up high high high all while smiling and doing the happy dance.

Do you know what I mean?

I remember clear as day where I was when I heard of the Georgian athletes awful death.  It made me sink.  Without a word, it's as if we all knew that we weren't going to let him down, the Vancouver Olympics down, this experience down.  We rose up in cheer and delight to push through the negative - and yes it was negative.  This young man shouldn't have died this way.  He didn't get to embrace his family as they hugged and kissed him with pride over his olympic experience when he returned home to his life and loved ones.   There was no okaying this.  Sure the weather up in Cypress sucked and there were trucks and helicopters bringing in snow.  Many many tickets were of no use and those people were completely screwed of a once-in-a-lifetime experience. 
Life happenned in Vancouver.  I get that.  It normalized me somehow.  Shit happens. 
Tragedy is devastating. 

There was the moment where I asked the question:  What can I do?
Could we push through this as a host city?  I remember seeing John Furlong with Jacques Rogge in the press conference after the death.  They were gutted.
There was no way I would let this go to pot.  We all felt the same.  Clearly. 

My night out - a pleasant last minute surprise thanks to a dear friend and Olympics Mom as I think of her now - with a group of mothers was incredible.  It will be a highlite of my year.  The experience of the Olympics was a dream staycation let me tell you.

We all know that this is a costly endeavour and Vancouver and it's people are stretched already beyond means.   Yes,  that big bear in the corner it's there alright. We'll be crying over that for years to come and possibly damning some of this.

Outside of the bad, the experience that I am left with is joy and pride over a great moment of our history.  Families and peoples coming together.  We will share this for a lifetime.  Greatfully.  We welcomed the world into our backyard with open arms, warm hearts and friendly faces.  The happiness was infectious and undeniable.  When I look at those Olympic weeks I know that happiness and festivity rise above cynicism.  As does the goodness in all of us, it is stronger than a negative spirit.   

I am buoyed by this experience and I will push through with my  red Canada toque square on my head.
A part of me may very well believe that Layla will inspire more than just me.   I believe that she will see, hear, speak, and walk.  She can laugh;  we've heard that.  Her spirit is strong.  
This moment came at a good time for me.  Like a dose of sunshine, my reserves are full, I am nourished.
Life is good.