Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Share the Flame





I have some vivid memories of the 88 Calgary Olympics. Specifically when the Olympic Torch relay went in front of our store on 14th Street. I was 11 years old at the time and for some reason it really moved me. When I heard the Olympics were coming to Vancouver, I was SO excited. I wanted my kids to experience the Olympics like I had.

When the Torch ran through Calgary, we just had to go. We had a great time and I think the kids will always remember that day, although it probably won't mean as much to them as to me.

At the 88 opening ceremonies, a 12 year old girl named Robyn Perry lit the Olympic cauldron. When she returned to light the cauldron at Olympic Plaza, I started to get a little emotional as my childhood memories came flooding back. As the cauldron was being lit, I asked Michael, "isn't this awesome?" To which he replied "Dad, I want one of those glowing coke bottles."

We still have the coke bottle. Hopefully, he remembers it as more than the night he obtained a cheap marketing toy.