Excuse me? Our athletes have won medals while I’ve been sleeping? The must have Olympic souvenirs can’t be acquired 24/7 and those pertinent hockey games are now being played at dawn my time? Good heavens. I’d quite forgotten how things are so very different when the Olympics are not taking place in my hometown.
In my last post – An Olympic Experience – I tried to convey how nothing can prep you for the marvel of hosting the Olympics. It closed with a promise to share two of my special memories from that time. Today I’m making good on that promise.
To host the Olympics is to experience Olympic Fever 24/7. As long as that flame is lit so too is the spirit.
This photo is quintessential Olympic Fever 24/7.
Yes, it’s midnight. Note the “open 24 hours” sign. Now look at the lineup. How telling is that? People are lining up outside the Hudson’s Bay Department store to purchase an Olympic souvenir or two. There are so many shoppers currently inside the store they have to monitor the doors. Hello! It’s a shop not a club.
The lineup is entertaining as hell. It’s open season. A simple “what events have you seen?” triggers an extraordinarily animated dialogue between complete strangers. This party atmosphere continues inside; you lose all sense of time. The lights are bright, the merchandise racks are loaded and everyone is in the mood to buy.
The most popular item of 2010? These iconic red mittens.
Seriously. Everyone has a least one pair.
Yes. Everyone.
Heading to Sochi? Perfect. Grab an outfit or six.
Once you’ve nabbed your mitts, your Sochi gear and perhaps a mascot or two …
… you queue up yet again to pay. There are probably at least fifty folks ahead of you. Close your eyes for just a minute and listen. You’re bound to hear snippets of Dutch, German, Japanese, English, Spanish, Russian … you might even pick up a token foreign phrase. Oui, c’est tres magnifique.
Olympic Fever 24/7
Buoyed by your new acquisitions you happily spill out onto the bustling streets. The clock may read 01:30 but here in Olympic Fever 24/7 land the night is young. Why not pop down and check out the action at the Olympic cauldron. Not sure where it is? Ask any of the copious law enforcement members or just follow the swarm of people. If it’s not your first visit, you (and most of the other 300 folks gathered around the site) will have made peace with the plexiglass viewing panels.
Cold? No worries, just hurl on your newly purchased cozy CANADA or SOCHI hoodie, yank up the hood and stand close to the fence. The heat from the cauldron will have you warm in no time.
As you finally fall asleep may you dream of Sochi. And her gloves.
Rest up, for tomorrow’s another big day. There’s a wealth of sporting events to view from downhill skiing to curling, of course multiple items to peruse at the different pavilions around town and many a restaurant to visit. Just don’t forget that the first matchup between Canada and the USA hockey teams starts at 4:00. In the afternoon.
Enough about me and the Olympic fever 24/7. I’m curious about you. Would you like to host the Olympics? Do you care? Or would you rather hunker down and wait until all the Olympic hoopla is done and life thankfully returns to normal? If you’d care to share, I’d love to hear.
20 Responses
Love the Sochi gloves ! I definitely have Olympic fever and am loving watching the events. I was so proud watching the 2 sisters from Montreal get their medals in skiing. They were amazing, and so proud to win for Canada !
Yes – I was so excited this morning to see Canada win that game over Finland in womens’ hockey. Nice to see the strong competition and not a rout. It was close during two and a half periods, eh?
Ok I must admit I have been watching a lot of snowboard the past few days. Yes Tora Bright has me mesmerised. I must also use mention I do prefer the mittens to this years gloves.
Tora Bright – what a bright spark for Australia.
I am obsessed with The Olympics! I just cannot imagine how much fun it would be to have it in your city! :)-Ashley
Ashley I too am obsessed! Can you tell? 57 posts on the Olympics. Hahahaha! I will write about something else. Off to check out the giving up choices on offer over at DOR.
I am loving your Olympic posts, Kelly! You do such an awesome job of making us feel what it was like to be right in the thick of things! Also, great job in writing out Oprah’s signature gift giving cadence!
Thanks Mo. I suspect folks are thinking “enough of the *&%^@) Olympic posts!” I shall break it up now and again with off topic stuff however I am delighting in watching Sochi. Hope you’re surviving moving land.
What fun!! I’m definitely into these winter Olympics…and love love love those gloves!!!
Thanks Marcie – they are cute aren’t they?
Like many Kelly I find myself completely engrossed in these games. Now nothing can ever replace the feelings of having the games in our own backyard but the obsession has again caught hold. Watching in delight our athletes exceed even their own expectations. Tearing up watching sisters claim mogul gold and silver. Cheering louder than loud not for the athlete but his brother Fredrick. Oh the memories of yesteryear and the ones of current.
Gotta love those games.
GO CANADA GO!!!!!!!!!!!
I am so hoping they reshow the Frederick moment on the rehash tonight Janice. Couldn’t watch it live today. Scuh a good point you make about the memories of yesterday and the new ones being created. Yes the sisters! And the gold and silver in men’s moguls. And the …. Go Canada Go!
Hi Kelly! The Olympics are on (in the background). Skiing and shooting (what?). But oh yes, I stayed up late to watch ice dancing. I dream of skating: My parents faithfully transformed our backyard into a skating rink.
Watching downhill races and snowboarding freestyle increases my heartrate. And I’m a hockey fan!!! My great uncle Hap Holmes is in Canada’s Hockey Hall of Fame (a goalie).
As for the mittens/gloves. Don’t wear them in Texas or Florida much, but I covet that mitten pair : )).
Your parents created an ice rink in your backyard routinely? How special is that? My dad was able to do it once in our mild climate. I remember it beng terribly bumpy and oh so much fun.Just googled Hap Holmes. The man won the Stanley Cup 4 times with 4 different teams! Wow.
Oh my gosh, as long as they aren’t selling those HORRID American sweaters that look like something my 4th grade Math teacher would have worn. What the heck, Ralph Lauren?
Hahahaha! Oh dear. Sense you’re not fond of them …
I think it would be as cool as it was insane to host the Olympics! I can’t imagine all the crowds and hoopla….but then again, I’d hopefully get to see some events live and in person!
We’ve been having SO much fun having the games on pretty much all the time, even if it’s just background noise. We’re watching all the snowboard and ski jump competitions. Very excited about those.
We had perogies on opening night. With a map on the wall, and flags for both Russia and America (drawn by my 6yo) hanging by the map, we were ready to watch!
I know and it’s only what day 5? So much fun. Love that you had perogies on opening night. What’s on the menu for the closing?
I loved reading this. The finishing sentence of your opening paragraph is my favourite: “I’d quite forgotten how things are so very different when the Olympics are not taking place in my hometown.” Reading it, I went “oh yeah, that’s right”.Now I feel like I got to experience Vancouver Olympics vicariously through you.
Thanks Katia. I am slowly aclimatizing back to how it normally is – for the Olympics to not be here! I’m not the only one – so many of my friends and family feel the same way. The nice thing? I can now watch fresh Olympic material at night! It’s not reruns. Yippee!