The Games Begin!

Today was nothing short of wonderous and I am still in a daze from an experience that promises to be a life-long memory.  As a Canadian I am filled with pride even though I am a visitor to this part of the country and experiencing the Olympics as a tourist.  This is still "our Olympics" and the world is grateful that we have invited them into our country for a few short weeks.  Vancouver is doing us proud as a Canadian city and as a host to nations.  The thousands of Olympic volunteers and Vancouverites, in general, have been gracious, kind and, in true Canadian fashion, polite to a fault.  The city is immaculate, organized and beautiful- a perfect stage for the XXI Winter Olympic Games. 

Our day started at the Olympic Countdown Clock at Robson Square which has been counting down the start of the Olympics for a year and ended at the Opening Ceremonies of the XXI Winter Olympic Games.  While it was never our plan to attend the Opening Ceremonies, the tickets which we bought with the intent to sell never did and so we used them ourselves.  It is often said that things happen for a reason and I believe that fate played a hand in this course as my Olympic experience has been made all the richer for the show of patriotism, compassion and inspiration that I was witness to tonight.  The Opening Ceremonies was a show like I have never seen before and probably will never see again.  It was a perfect blend of much of what makes us Canadian as well as being a fantastic spectacle.  It was an emotional display of people from every corner of the world mourning the tragic loss of a dedicated athlete and rallying to support his countrymen. It was a showing of pride and hope in our Canadian athletes that was beyond anything that I have witnessed and moved many to tears.  It was a challenge to athletes to act as role models for the youth of the world and inspire them to greatness.  It was an event that made me proud to be a Canadian.  I am looking at the world through Olympic glasses and it is a beautiful place- I have been forever changed.

Erika