The World Just Keeps On Spinning

Is it a bad thing when you look forward to a good thing ending? Just something to consider.

This is my last blog post before I hit the "Big Slab." That's trucker for highway. I must say, this has been one heck of an experience. Canada has been good to us Americans. One thing is for sure, partying is a part of their lifestyle. Even though I am always up for a good time, even I am worn out. Of course, their type of partying isn't my type of partying, but the nice thing is, no one is judging anyone here. British Columbia is a place where individuals happen. That's a nice thing I will say. I am sick of smelling weed at every public, outdoor function I go to, though.

For the last two weeks, the world has celebrated peace with the event of the Olympics. For the next week, Whistler is celebrating pride, gay pride. The rainbow flags are lining the street lamps and a local bar is now the Pride House, in the same manner different countries had houses during the Olympics. I think that's a sign that it's time for me to leave. I leave on Wednesday, the 3rd. Not a day too soon.

For me, the Olympics have been an eye opener. Not the events, them selves. I knew what to expect after watching the Olympics over the years on TV, lots of flags and cowbells. The eye openers come from the people I've met, the place I lived, and the things I got to do. I have a greater appreciation for the world. It's fun to see everyone love their country as much as I love mine. It's also fun to be an ambassador and defend the quarks people think your country has. I can see how on a grander scale this can lead to conflict, but here, it was all good, clean fun.

I now know why people protest the Olympics. In a city like Vancouver, with a large homeless population, how can an organization justify spending billions on a two week festival instead of helping the homeless. In the Olympics defense, the money they are spending is for the Olympics, for the world, so to speak, not a few thousand down and out people in one small city somewhere in the world. There is help for them. Bold sides of the argument make sense to me.

I'm not going to miss Rainbow Village, at all. I look forward to clean bathrooms and a bed I can roll around in all night. I will miss laughing about it with the friends I have made here. I should find more opportunities in my life where new trials create new friendship bonds. The survivors of Rainbow Village have something in common that no one else in the world have. Yesterday, as I was doing a Vancouver run for people going home, I felt like I was on Schindler's List as I saw peoples' eyes light up when they saw their name on the paper on the clip board. Freedom was theirs and they are now home.

Finally, Four Man Bobsledding was a lot of fun. I feel honored that I was there to see Team USA get the gold for the 1st time in 62 years. Even though I could only see them for a split second as they whizzed by on their sled, my good ol' American Pride lasted all day. I made a short video that illustrates what it was like to be standing next to the track.

I am glad this is over, but I am sad to see it end. It's kind of like healing from surgery. During the recovery, it wasn't the most fun, but people really cared about you and you liked that. Now that you've healed, you miss the sympathy, but you are once again free to do what you want. Unless, of course, you get all four limbs amputated. OK, enough with the dumb analogy. Thanks for sharing this experience with me.