The 2010 Olympic Version when I was downtown Vancouver at Robson & Burrard.
The G20 Version viewed online:
I am baffled by the contrast, and saddened that humanity turns into this. Are we ever going to change?
Tag: Vancouver 2010 Olympics
Moving Beyond Obstacles… thank you Paralympians & Olympians…
Wheelchairs, crutches, no arms, limping bodies, eyes not seeing, distortions, hidden prosthetics, and steady smiling faces that showed light, determination, and an aching to live to the utmost.
That’s what I saw when the Paralympic Athletes, yes with a capital A, paraded before the Vancouver audience at the Opening Ceremonies.
I wasn’t there, but instead was glued to my TV noticing that this sport event might affect me more than I anticipated, differently to the previous Olympics.
The Paralympics touch a chord. A personal chord.
First of all, I have a father who’s in a wheelchair. I have seen him over the years go from walking solo to canes, to finally a wheelchair. Concurrently, I have also seen him pursue his art with a fierce determination. I have watched how both my mother and father never gave up as a team.
Then 7 years ago, I had a back operation. Unfortunately, I had over-endured much pain and by the time I got to the operating table, my right leg was not functioning properly. I couldn’t walk afterwards. To recuperate, I did constant physiotherapy to get me from a wheelchair, walker, crutches, cane, to finally a foot brace.
The foot brace is still in my life as I have nerve damage leaving me with “drop foot” but I don’t let that stop me!
In fact, because of watching so much of the Olympics and Paralympics, I felt a stirring and decided it was time to see if I could still skate. It had been over 20 years. I used to figure skate when I was a kid, and loved it. And, in my adult life skating showed up in repetitive dreams in which I skated to perfection!
Off to a small community rink in Vancouver we went and I found myself going through motions that seemed extremely foreign, yet, very familiar.
However, the motions on the ice were instantly UNfamiliar! “This is slippery!! How do people do this!?”. Determined to stick it out, I grabbed onto the side and didn’t let go for about 2 rounds of the rink.
By the 3rd round, I eased off my clutching. Then, I started sensing another stirring. My body seemed to be taking my head hostage and movements from my skating past were returning.
Before I knew it, my body was gliding with some power, and suddenly, it whipped around, putting me face to face with my partner who was behind me. “You’re skating BACKWARDS!” “I know!!” Gulp….
I may not be an Olympic or a Paralympic athlete, but in my own little world, I feel I have conquered something important. And, I want to do it again.
Thank you to all of you, especially the Paralympians, for inspiring me, and many others..
Vancouver Olympics Playtime…
When I first learned that the Olympics were coming to town, I was amongst those against the idea. I jumped on the “let’s get out of Dodge” attitude. As the Olympics drew closer the politics, the potential problems, and the ethical questioning also heightened.
I wasn’t terribly positive.
Then a strange thing occurred.
Innocently, I “retweeted” a tweet about an Olympic Hockey contest by Tourism B.C. and a couple of days later it was announced that I had won.
I won? What did I win???? I was baffled as I didn’t even know I had entered!!
I had mixed feelings as I thought someone more fanatical than me should have won the 3 hockey tickets, the limo, the hotel, the Hockey House day, and then…. I started to get excited, really excited!!
As I write this, I’m sitting in my hotel waiting for my “limo” to pick me up to go to two Women’s hockey games while my guy is watches the Men’s Hockey game!
Yesterday, I was taken around Robson Square downtown Vancouver by Chris Wheeler, the Torch Reporter, and taken up on the Zipline…
And, last night I was standing at a perfect place on Robson St. with an energetic crowd as Canada’s Jon Montgomery won gold on the Mens Skeleton.
Needless to say, I admit that I have set aside my earlier apprehensions for some Olympic playtime. It really is fantastic to see everyone having so much fun, sharing energy, and a sense of Canadiana of which I’ve never witnessed.
I’m sure the Olympic hangover will be tough, and things are far from perfect. But, for now… I’m just going to continue to join in, play, and recharge my sense of fun.
Hope some of you are doing the same, or at least that the spirit has affected you wherever you are!
More later!
Trilby Jeeves ~ Bouffon Droppings... 