Surprise Party at the Plaza

Aslynn is sporting a number of the spoils of a recent chance encounter we had in Calgary. As we were on our way using the C-Train  for a leisurely stroll downtown, a gentleman on the train was pointing out a number of points of interest to the kids. He invited them over to observe the new animated dinosaurs at the Zoo from his window across the aisle and had them watching the Bow River to see if there were any fish swimming. He also mentioned that there was a gathering going on at Olympic Plaza for the athletes returning from the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. So we hopped off the train and checked out the sights. The photo above is of Aslynn trying her skills on the Skeleton. Apparently they start training kids on the Luge by the time they are eight years old. Yikes! Can you imagine Micah next year flying down the hill (and into a post)? I guess they don't start the kids on the Bobsled until they are fourteen because it's 400 pounds of dead weight.

The kids had fun. Faith and Judah took off to get lunch from McDonalds on Stephen Ave as the rest of us found the right spot to watch the proceedings. Above the Plaza collonade  the cauldron blazed beautifully in the balmy +8⁰C sunshine. From here we could also see the Calgary Tower's flame which was also lit for the occasion.

A group called Acapella Fellas entertained us with a number of songs that I sang along to. I wonder how long it will be before my kids are embarrased by their father singing along to things in public? Faith and Judah arrived back from their long walk just in time to catch Catriona LeMay Doan introducing the Mayor Dave Bronconnier, the MLA in charge of Sports and Recreation in Alberta, and others.

One highlight was John Montgomery speaking on behalf of the athletes; Micah asked why he talked so fast, to which we answered that John is an auctioneer and this was actually talking slowly for him. I'm not sure he believed us.

Other highlights included seeing all the other athletes, including Brian McKeever (blind cross-country skier) and his brother and singing the national anthem together with a twelve-year-old leading us. At what point do you start correcting your children on the lyrics? "We stand on God for thee" is really cute and so appropriate, don't you think?

There was a pretty realistic Don Cherry impersonator in the crowd that had Micah pretty convinced. He pointed him out in fact, but I have no idea whether or not Micah would have actually went up and shook his hand or asked for his autograpgh if he really was Don Cherry. Judah on the other hand was intrigued with the little flags and things they were handing out, and went racing back and forth waving them and shouting as the athletes were being announced (just to run off steam, nothing more)...

We stuck around to watch the athletes parade down the street toward Flames Central. We saw our female boblsedders, Jennifer Heil from moguls, John, Brian, and a host of other competitors and winners. It was a pretty cool even to just happen upon. Thanks Mr. Whoever-you-are from the C-Train!

- Mark