We've come to the realization that sports make up only half of the Olympic experience. Good thing, due to the dearth of affordable tickets. What's the other half of the Olympic experience? The people – playing host, the visitors, the athletes – most of them on their best behaviour.
The answer to our family's standard questions regarding their impressions of an extraordinary experience – What were the best parts and what were the worst? Four days in, here they are:
- The Opening Ceremony – Despite seats in the very back row, being part of that energy was as moving as any item on a list of top life experiences. I still get teary at the thought. Imagine that – me, Ms. Olympic bah-humbug! It must have been good, you know my disdain for marks of exclamation!
OK, one more team photo. I love this one, an enthusiastic supporter of the Polish contingent, who popped up just as I took the picture:
- Again, by fluke, happened to find tickets to the Victory Ceremony featuring our Alexandre Bilodeau's gold medal. I probably don't have to remind anyone that it was Canada's first gold at a Canadian Olympics. Witnessing history:
- The sense of connection formed from the good will between individuals who make up the throngs of Olympic participants.
- Canadian patriotism like I've never seen:
The worst:
- The tragic death of luger Nodar Kumaritashvili.
- Imported fake protesters, whose acts of violence and vandalism are most unwelcome. The cauldron bearing the flame, the ultimate Olympic symbol, had to be protected from vandals by a double set of eight foot high draped fencing. Shame, isn't it:
- Line ups, hours long for any free attraction. Example: the downtown zip line, a ride seconds in length, with a four hour wait. Anyone who expected to have a quality Olympic experience, without purchasing pricey tickets, must be bitterly disappointed:
Enough for now. Opening Ceremony entertainment in a future post. Oh that KD…
Life's a Stitch 
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