Gold Canada Gold!

I find myself in a bit of a slump. For the past 7 days, I have been glued to my laptop screen from mid-afternoon until evening hours witnessing the splendour that has been the Vancouver 2010 Olympics.

Eight years ago, I witnessed what I thought was one of those "Where were you when..." moments as Team Canada claimed Olympic gold in men's hockey against team USA, when days before the women's team managed the same feat. I was in a crowded restaurant with two great friends from college hugging and cheering with strangers while we sang the national anthem over several plates of nachos and several glasses of..."pop". It was quite the event. Little did I know that eight years later I would re-live something similar by being a part of the largest Canadian television audience of all time. Last night 16 million+ people teetered on the edge of bar stools and couch cushions cheering for what every Canadian believes is rightfully ours...the chance to skate around a hockey rink with an over sized Canadian flag on a fishing pole after beating the Americans. Oh, and we got the gold medal as well...and several more before that. And again, days before, the women did the same thing.

I have already written about pride for my country, and how traveling really emphasizes my love for the 2nd largest land mass on earth, but for 14 days every 4 years, (because let's be honest the summer Olympics aren't our greatest platform) we have the chance to really step up and show off. This year, we got to do it right here, at home, and prove to the world what we already knew. We are a great nation of talented, friendly and funny people, hoping to do our best when it truly matters most.

How fitting that the final anthem to be played was our own, with millions of people around the world singing at the top of their lungs. Another great day in Canadian history.

So in true Canadian fashion, I will sum up our success the best way I know how, by apologizing for being #1. Be it for gold medals, hockey legacies or great coffee, Canada is the greatest place I've ever had the pleasure of seeing.

I. Am. Canadian.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dzn0UiiOYLs