Tonight You Lit the Flame

Vancouver, 2000

I think everyone has a preference:  Summer Olympics versus Winter Olympics.  For me, it's always been the Winter Olympics.  It's probably because my family members have always been big figure skating fans so I've watched a lot of skating all my life.

The last few years I've also become fascinated with curling.  Such a simple thing ... throwing a mammoth rock down a length of ice or--more properly--delivering the stone down the sheet.   My new little office has no television so I'll probably have to concoct reasons to be in the main office when either the American or Canadian rinks (teams) are aiming for the button (center of the house [scoring area]).

"Everything Will Change" Mixfest,
9/14/13

I'm extra excited this year since Team USA has chosen one of my favorite songs, Everything Will Change by Gavin DeGraw, as it's theme song this year.  It's been my theme song too since I first heard it in September at Mixfest in Boston.  I've mentioned it here before, I'm sure.

Everything Will Change

Take those boots off the shelf
Wipe that dust of yourself
Even if you’ve been through hell; you’re back
It’s time to separate the men from the boys
And the women from the girls
And the tools from the toys
Even if you’re freaking out, just relax

Hey 

Before it gets too late
Before the night is over

Before the world’s awake
Everything will change
You feel it coming on
Starting like a fire

Tonight you lit the flame
Now everything will change

Back when it used to hurt

Took you a little while just to find the worth
Losing, well, it sometimes burns, 

but you keep movin' on
You’ve got to push on like you’re leading the nation
Got to make the best outta this situation
Get your hands up like it’s a celebration
And you keep moving on
Singing 

Hey 

Before it gets too late
Before the night is over

Before the world’s awake
Everything will change
You feel it coming on
Starting like a fire

Tonight you lit the flame
Now everything will change

Take those boots off the shelf
Wipe that dust of yourself
Even if you’ve been through hell; you’re back 

Hey 

Before it gets too late
Before the night is over

Before the world’s awake
Everything will change
You feel it coming on
Starting like a fire

Tonight you lit the flame
Now everything will change

You can talk the talk or

you can walk the walk

Everything changes

Life happens in stages

You won't have a story

Without turning pages

12/15/13, Huntington, Long Island

This song quickly became the theme of my weight loss journey although most of the hard work was already behind me when I first heard it.  Come to think of it though, perhaps the hard work is still ahead:  maintaining my new healthy lifestyle isn't easy and old habits die hard.  I've been off track for a couple of months now, trying to get my boots off the shelf.

But I'm ready ... both to resume my "training program" and for the excitement of Sochi.  I have two countries for which to cheer--my birth country of Canada and my adopted country, the United States.*  Bring on the opening ceremonies.  Good luck to our athletes.  And please televise lots of curling this year!

~~~~~

*Hoping that this year it will be either the US or Canada in the gold medal round in hockey; not both .... When they are both vying for gold, I enter the realm of multiple personalities.

Everything Will Change, first time performed in public.

Everything Will Change, Team USA official video