Knowing that friends and acquaintances would ask about the Olympics being held in Canada, I watched a lot of the coverage so that I could participate in 17 days worth of small talk. Doubt and distress ignited when the cauldron didn't at the opening ceremonies. My apprehension grew as U.S. commentators dwelt on poor Canadian performances of the Olympic past. I suffered many a cardiac arrhythmia and near suffocation from holding my breath that the motherland would pull through. I hated, hated, hated that the U.S. men's hockey team beat Canada in the first round of tournament play. A friend at work made sure I knew his feelings on the topic and I didn't have to feign dissatisfaction this time. My mental status sustaining apathy had evaporated. Over the next several days, I was buoyed by other great Canadian performances but couldn't erase the burning hope that Team Canada would spank the U.S. in the final hockey game. I checked the internet throughout the game knowing I couldn't watch without risking my heart's health. Finally, with 43 seconds left in the last period, I turned on the TV and cheered confidently for 19 seconds...until the U.S. tied the game. Hopes dashed I debated staying tuned for the overtime period but decided to see my team through. When we scored, I reservedly cheered until Todd informed and assured me (three times) that it was a sudden death overtime. A swell of relief filled the part of me that normal sports fans cram with rejoicing. I wasn't nearly as happy as I was freed from the angst of wishing for something you can't control. Blech. I hate sports.
My mild in-your-face celebration was wearing a Canada shirt to work on Monday and painting my fingernails like this.
(Hmmm. Maybe this is a Gang Canada sign. Yikes.)
On a related note, the women's team did great and caused me no worries at all. :)
7 comments:
I am with ya....all the way/. LOVELY NAILS!!!!!
You're so funny! We were a house divided during that hockey game - half for the U.S. and half for Canada. I loved that Canada won (even though I was cheering for team USA) because, hey, the hosting country should go out with a bang, right?
We're sad that the Olympics are over. :(
Way to go and stay true to your roots!! I was a terrible Canadian and didn't watch near enough of the Olympics. About that hockey game, we were in Sacrament meeting and Randy kept checking the score on his iphone (nice).
Hilarious! Love the nails! Brad wore head-to-toe Canadian garb to work the day after the game AND brought a Canadian flag. Overkill?
When the US men beat team Canada in the first round my brother was so excited and said we should call a Canadian and rub it in. He didn't think we knew anyone. Actually I did know the nicest Canadian you ever did meet. I love her too much to rub it in although I would have loved to talk to her. Canada has such a beautiful anthem. SOOOOO much easier to sing. Love you Canadian Girl!
Love your Canadian spirit and of course, those lively nails. You always make me smile, Rita.
Ben and I were depressed when the Olympics ended. We realized we barely watched any of it this year. What is it about life with young children and being exhausted by the end of the day?
Love you, and loved the nails... but I hated the outcome of the hockey game. What kind of a sporting event lets a team that loses in the first round play for the Gold?
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