The title of this post says a lot about our experience today. Our hearts were a glow with unity and the feeling of being something as big as the Olympic games.We took the kids out of school for the day.
We took time off of work in order to get out to see the torch pass through Richmond Hill.
Many days of following the torch on the web site and then planning where we were going to stand went out the window when we drove down to see the area and found there was probably a better place to see the torch. The torch bearers where actually waiting at the community center and they let us touch and even hold the torches (not lit ofcourse). You could see the glow in their faces. Even more enjoyable was to see how they wanted to share the excitement with us.
Once the torch was coming closer we watched the bus with the participants pass by and drop them off every 300 meters or so. We quickly ran to the next person to watch the flame pass from one person to the next. Torch bearer 156 (Graham) was passing the flame to 157 (Alain). I'm glad we asked them there names as it was nice to cheer on a name rather than a number. It was a cold -10 degrees out but the feeling we shared with the people around us kept us warm...until they relay was over then we felt it I tell you :-)
I didn't want this event to pass us by without at least a try to get up close and see it. Back in 1988 I remember the torch passing by our old
restaurant on Keele and Bloor. From what I remember even though it may not have been a day for us to be working we all showed up in order to take in the experience. It all happened too quickly then as it did this time but I feel we got much more out of it this time. I'm still trying to find the one picture I had from back in 88. Until I find it enjoy the ones from this year.
Update. There it is thanks to my Cousin.
