reflections on a great 17 days, 2 visits to Vancouver sites… moving amonst the crowds and sharing in the energy and common enthusiasm, cheering for CANADIAN athletes.  Unlike many who have expressed an intense dislike for big crowds and “why would anyone want to go to the big city with tons of people everywhere”.  I know for a fact that my wife and I weren’t mugged once or had personal belongings stolen or never did we have to stand for hours and wait for a skytrain.  We were so impressed by the ease of travel and the helpful attendants on the loading platforms and the Olympic volunteers were friendly and helpful.  The whole Olympic experience started for me at Christmas when I was given a miniture Inukshuk in our family gift exchange.  It didn’t mean a whole lot at first but the longer it sat in my library the more meaning it took on.  Realizing that it was the world’s smallest Inukshuk, made it an even more unique gift.  Manufactured by a local BC company called TeenyInuk-Kreations it came with an official company guarntee stating its authenticity and its worldwide claim to be the smallest Inukshuk in the world.  Even though I need a magnifying glass to observe the intricate workmanship of this Inukshuk miniture it slowly got me into the olympic mood.  Is it true that Inukshuk was the first aboriginal participant in olympic history? (apparently the front half of a double luge team) Please help me substantiate that this is the case because rerry and myself want to keep our blog as factual as is humanly possible.  I really identified with Inukshuk when I tromped around Vancouver for hours because at fist my feet got really sore and then they turned to stone. I just stood there listening to the incredible Sam Roberts Band from Montreal and my feet didn’t hurt quite as much.  We met an old university friend playing saxophone in a funk band on the Hamiltom walkwaY.  We had’t seen her in at least 20 yrs so that was coincidental at least!    To say the least I was a weary person by the end of each day.  It was a good kind of tired though because I had been a part of something really special and I had enjoyed the experience with the people that are closest to me and 200,000 other Canadians that I got to know albeit in an impersonal way.  The fact that the Olympics ended with SidtheKid’s Golden Goal was the perfect end to a very successful event.  The Russian town of Sushi will have to go along way to top Vancouver/Whistler/Cypress…don’t you think??