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

Borders and Boundaries

I've been thinking a lot about borders and boundaries since being away last week.  We drove to Canada to visit friends and family in the city where my parents, my brothers and I were born, Windsor, Ontario.  There were border crossings involved, naturally.  But I passed through a lot of boundaries besides the obvious ones.

It's about a 10- or 11-hour drive from my home in New Jersey to my birthplace.  I can no longer drive it in one day (at least not by myself).  We take our time crossing the borders of Pennsylvania and Ohio.  A lot of people don't like the drive.  They say Route 80 in Pennsylvania is boring and the flatness of Ohio is unappealing to some.  Pennsylvania is wide and it feels like it's taking forever but it's pretty with worn-low mountains and wildflowers and quilts of farmland spread out on either side of the road.  I went to college in Ohio so I'm pretty partial to that state.  It is kind of flat in the north where we travel but there's beauty in that.  The horizon is far in the distance with grey weathered barns pushed against the edge and fields and fields of growing things. 

When I'm driving through Ohio my mind travels across decades of borders and memories that are triggered by green highway signs.  I'm sure I knew people from Vermillion ... my roommate had family in Akron ... the second great love of my life was from Elyria (wonder where he is; is he happy; how many children; and on and on).  I don't visit those borders very often any more but the signs naturally cause me to look back.  Border crossings.

So we drive to Toledo and turn north. It's that simple, especially from my house situated within sight of Route 80.  Before we get there we pass by signs for Sandusky and Cedar Point.  Cedar Point ... site of the last roller coaster I ever rode.  The Blue Streak, 1971.  Nancy's father took us over the border for a day of fun in this classic amusement park.  "Come on," she said.  "It's not bad, I promise."  Her dad could tell I was changed for life when I exited that ride.  I'm pretty sure I was white as a sheet.  Thank goodness they hadn't thought to set up cameras on those rides yet.  I have not been on anything faster than teacups since.  

When we finally get to the real border crossing (after getting through the tunnel that links Detroit with Windsor, the U.S. with Canada), there's always that moment of dread:  that unwarranted fear you get when speaking to someone "in authority."  I can't help but notice the two language greeting, "Bonjour/hello."  A few basic questions and we're on our way again, a couple of blocks to the hotel situated on the river.  On the border.  I can look across from my old home and wave towards my now home.

I crossed some other borders during the week.  The most notable was the boundary I've set up for myself this year.  The one that keeps me eating healthy and exercising every day.  It's hard to make good choices when you're traveling.  I did pretty well the first couple of days but when that poutine appeared on the menu ... well, I crossed over into dangerous eating territory.  I went over the border into full vacation mode. I recognize that's an excuse for making bad choices and not standing my ground at that border.  I did manage to walk every day except for three of the driving days.  I'm not happy with crossing that boundary but I accept that I chose to go over the bridge and that it will take some time to undo the damage.

We spent the week crossing borders and boundaries.  Visiting friends and family who've been in our lives all my life and reminiscing at every turn.  They say you can never go back but I'm lucky.  I was rooted in such a lovely place that even though it's changed much over the years, I can still find my childhood amidst the "progress."

This image really made me both laugh and think as we
waited in a very long line to cross back to the States.  We
aren't "closed" here.  We welcome people from all over the
world.  Every day.  People seeking both a short respite and a
permanent refuge.

Crossing back and returning home, I run the memories in reverse.  Other bits of the past trickle up but by the time we hit New Jersey, I've crossed back to the present.  I'm running my to-do list for the week ahead and playing catch-up in my brain.  The final border crossing:  home again.

~

There was, of course, a playlist as I drove:

Gavin DeGraw (the entire catalog)

Jamie McLean Band (my summer party)

Andy Grammer (happiness on a disc)

Sara Bareilles (pure beauty)

Michael Franti (peace & dancing too)

Colbie Caillet (memories of last summer)