Yesterday should have been the best time to post this article for so many reasons: One is because it was the actual day when the people of Parksville, gathered and waited before nine in the morning out in the streets of the Island Hiway. Maybe for most of us it was unusual to get up so early on a Sunday morning and thank God for DST that time had fallen back again so it felt more like it was 10. Secondly, it was just the perfect temperature, the perfect climate for runners to sweat it out and Mr. Sun has been shining upon us with a big smile and great anticipation to witness another historical event that would mark Parksville as one of the first ever places that the Worldwide Olympic Torch could ever touch since it arrived from Greece to Canada (Victoria, BC) last week. Thirdly, with a combination of regret for not making it on the list of runners and gladness for not making it on the list because of my tortured weeklong flu, I finally got out of the house for the first time and be part at least of the viewers to celebrate this very emotional event. Besides, it was only a block away from our house and you can see the streets with lights, and people waiting with so much anticipation to be near the TORCH. There was no excuse really not to be out there and enjoy this whole event than mocking over this dry endless painful cough that's been keeping me off work for two weeks now. And again, who would want to miss this very beautiful sunny Sunday morning that could possibly bring us hopes and maybe strike a magic in our hearts and minds that not even the worst flu, may it be the swine or H1N1, could ever ruin it for us hopefuls.
Yesterday was just perfect. My honey and I tried taking a few pictures of the street next to our place while waiting for the parade to start. I kept myself settled on the corner of both streets just in case I miss it on one end, I still have the other end covered. Cops passed by with their lights then more cops on their bikes then another set of cars with colorful lights and it seemed like forever. Finally the trucks of sponsors (Coke and RBC)came with more happy gestures. My honey told me to high-five with the girls representing COKE Bottling Company and so I did. With surprise in my hands, I was so happy I did because I didn't expect that the lady would hand me a bottle of Coke with all the Red color of the Olympics and details drawn around it. Of course I took pictures of it and who knows, one day this tiny bottle would worth a fortune?! So after my own short moment of the relay, it's time to pick up and concentrate. We still had to wait for a few more semis to pass by until finally the wait was over. There it was, the guy with the torch in his white uniform with members of the torch surrounding him, guarding him. And there in his hand, was the torch brightly lit up in flame. It was 9:27 in the morning, 7 minutes behind schedule... then my camera says it was 9:28 when he actually passed in front of me, beside me and passed me... So many of us were busy with our cameras that I didn't hear many people cheering for this poor guy but I know, he'd be fine. I'm sure he's more proud than any of us there to be running the torch around and his family waiting to cheer somewhere in the park.
We went home after but it was so sunny that we decided to proceed to the park where the City of Parksville was holding a short ceremony but then on our way, they were already on their way out of the park. We did capture that moment. We captured the whole event in our lenses (my honey brought his video too), in our memories, in our busy lives. And in honor of my first day of class with Shimelle at blogging for scrapbookers, I am trying to document today what would have been the perfect article of yesterday. Perfect ice breaker for a month long absence since I created my own blog. Pictures to be posted soon and hope to share more of the Olympics with you as I go on in February to volunteer during the Games Time.
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