I Am CANADIAN

March 1

Well this weekend was really fun. I went to the Busslten music festival were I had an absolute blast, the first day was great fun, with an absolutely amazing lineup ranging from a musical trio reminding me of Red Green to good rythems of Calexico to the wild finish of Xaviar Rudd who bounced us all the way home with some of the most unique and energenic music I have heard in a long time. Anyway we got a call on the Sunday night telling us we had work the next mornin at 5:00. Upon arival back at the campground at 11:30pm I decided that I would play hooky from work the next day. 2 main reasons, first I was tired, and wouldn't be feeling any better in 5 hours, secondly Canada was playing the U.S the next morning and there was no way I was going to miss that in favor of picking grapes. The next morning Chris went to pick grapes at 5 in the morning I slept to a very nice 8:30am, before moving over to the camp kitchen with a bottle of red wine in one hand and a hockey stick in the other. I sat down in front of the television and put on a face saying if anyone changed the channel someone would get hurt. I then patiently waited for the news to end. It was an agonizing wait but finally the news turned to sports where they anounced

"And now to the olimpics. Right now Canada is up 2-1 over America in the gold medal final right now at the end of the second period. We will be bringing you the third period live after the news."
Which was the best news I heard all day. The news took aganizingly long to tick away but eventually it did and I joined the rest of Canada just as the puck hit the ice to begin the third period. Soon I was joined by a Dutch guy who lived in Sweeden for 2 years. Then my cheering whooping and singing soon drew the attention of 4 Australians, all of whom had never seen a hockey game before, none the less a mad Canadian hockey fan delerius in the 40 degree heat. I soon taught them the basics of hockey and they were kind enough to cheeer for Canada along with me, that or they were scared what I would do if they cheered for the other side swingint a hockey stick, dancing on the tables, singing every known hockey song in my library(including The Hockey Song, Me like Hockey from the Arrogent worms, Canadian Anthem, and the Zamboni Song) . As I know you all were aware the Yanks scored to tie the game with under a minute to go, and I banged the picknic table in frustration. The tension was building as the overtime began, I chewed my nails, and when I ran out of those I started knawing on the wood picknic table (like a true beaver). One of the Australians asked me in a rather retorical question.

"This is big in Canada isn't it?"
I replied "Let me put it this way, If Canada wins this game there will be parties all night long, the olympics will be considered the most succsessful in Canadian history, and knowone will be at work tomorow as they will all be hung over. If Canada looses this game, the Vancover Olympics will be forever shunned and knowbody will be at work tomorow as there will be no workplace, if they are lucky, the fire department might have the fires under control by noon Tuesday next week. When Canada found out they got the winter olympics Canadians only throught of 1 thing, Winning hockey gold on home ice, all the other medals are insignificat next to this one."
And just then to prove my point they showed the outdoor jumbotron and 20,000 people packed around it.

As I probably don't have to tell you, it was an action packed overtime period, and when we finally scored I became the loudest person in Margret, dancing on the tables and downing the wine with my fellow fans. It didn't really matter if it was only 10:30 here, it was 5:00 somewhere. They then went on to show the first 2 periods, but they didn't really matter, I was celebrating to much to care. Later that afternoon I watched part of the closing cerimonies, and even the Australian comentators were talking about how all of Canada was tense waiting for that gold medal hockey game, how the country really wanted that one thing and now that they had it they are sitting back and enjoying the rest. I am going to make a bold prediction here, and say that the Vancouver Olympics will be the best remembered by Canadians, Montreal and Calgary won't be able to touch it. Not for the number of gold medals we won (even though we did really well there), not for the fact that a Gorgian Luger died (very unfortunate), but for that single hockey game Canada vs. the US, on home ice, in front of the home crowd, for the gold, and taking it in overtime. The last minute tie to send it to overtime, and the extra period that pulled the tension right to the max, and the goal by the most touted player in the NHL (even though I personally think he sucked the whole tournament and hate his guts) pushes this olympic games to the land of the legendary. This is what Canadian dreamed about, and they wern't dissapointed, and I am glad I saw it happen instead of picking grapes, this makes such a better story to tell the kids.

my future Child "Dad where were you when Canada won gold?"
Me "I was dancing on a picknic table in a caravan park on the other side of the world holding a hockey stick screaming as loud as I could, sourounded by 1 dutch guy, 3 Australians, and 4 very confused looking Kangaroos."
Chris "I was picking grapes in a field."

I am Canadian and I am damn proud of it.