a long time ago...

..."He is skating for the gold medal."
A young boy announces his own performance.
"He has to be perfect in his program because the Russians have nailed their jumps."
Standing in the middle of the living room floor, he gives a play-by-play as he jumps high into the air.
"A triple axel! What a jump!"
He exclaims when he finishes a half rotation and lands with a flourishing of his hands.
"He has got a hard combination ahead of him. A triple axel into another triple axel."
And in a solemn voice adds;
"If he lands this he will win the gold!"
The boy crosses his arms against his chest and does back to back jumps, landing on one leg with the other extended as far back as it can go. A worthy imitation of the ice-skaters pose, raising his arms on either side. In victory he cries,
"It's a gold! He has won the gold!"
Pumping his arms the boy races around the room for an audience of one.
"What a performance! He has done it. He has won the gold medal!"
Joining in the olympic dream, I clap and cheer the young boy on.

As the Olympic season, filled with dreams and glorious moments of triumph, reached out to two siblings so long ago, i am caught in this vortex again. Caught up in the magic of achieving something not just for oneself, but for a nation. fulfilling a hope and single highhandedly carrying the expectations of an entire nation for victory.Once again, watching the action, listening to announcers and waiting to hear three of the most awe inspiring words..."It's a gold!"
Mostly, I'm proud to be Canadian