Olympic Training Center

It's not RIGHT! It's not FAIR! This is an olympic site in Western Canada...and James was supposed to be begging me to finagle a way to get to the 2010 winter olympics here in Western Canada (Vancouver instead of Calgary) for next year...

Unlike when he and I saw some of the Olympic stuff in Lake Placid NY (1980 games) a few years ago, the Centre here in Calgary (1988 games) still has the plaza with flags and the torch/flame holder. Plus it has a big stage area facing the ski jump and bobsled/luge hills that we assume was used for medal presentations.

I am VERY aware that James would NOT have been experienced enough to compete in the 2010 olympics...and that he would have been VERY unlikely to have actually made it to the olympics in ice dance at all...

but this was a reminder of a dream that can not possibly be fulfilled now that he is gone...


Seeing the flags and flame plaza...and seeing the medal stage...I could also "see" James in the excited crowd of spectators, enjoying being part of the extravaganza and getting a little teary-eyed with patriotism whenever the stars & stripes was honored and our national anthem played...


(I'm guessing that anything olympic related (especially winter olympics) will be bittersweet for many years to come...)