Ceremony

We're watching the Olympics opening ceremony. It's quite a spectacle.

There have been lots of adverts before the show, some quite cheesy, going on about Canada's quiet pride, that now is the time to be proud.

We're feeling quite a bit of pride. Though we're recent immigrants, we chose this country, and we're proud to be here.

Margo and Sarah were there in BC Place two nights ago watching the dress rehearsal, what we're now seeing on TV. So they're going on about what's happening next. Now and then I have to shush them. Apparently most (all?) of the participants were there, including Prime Minister Harper.

The aboriginal welcome was nice. I teared up a bit.

Now there's the country-by-country entrance. Time for a break.

Margo says the actual athletes weren't there two nights ago; VANOC volunteers took their place.

I'm having some Canadian beers tonight. I'm working through a "Fin du Monde" from Unibroue. A bit of a poot slipped out and Margo and Sarah have chastised me thoroughly.

Georgia gets a standing ovation. Very honourable.

Great Britain. Our last home. Hmmm, who do we cheer for?

Margo is ogling the Italian men. Hmmm.

If there were an Olympics for bothering your dad, I'd say Sarah would get at least a bronze. I mentioned this, and Sarah said she'd go for gold.

An athlete from Japan is on her mobile. "I'm sorry, I can't talk right now. I'm in the Olympics."

Russia has 178 athletes! I think that's the biggest number yet.

Now the US with 216. Joe Biden too.

Canada last. The music changes. 206.

There's been dancers dancing this whole time. They must be tired.

Sarah's wearing our scarf. The same one the Canadian athletes are wearing.

Margo says Harper has plastic hair. "Devo hair."

Everyone in the audience has a drum.

Bryan Adams and Nelly Furtado. Margo says they were there Wednesday. Those people are still dancing.

The arms are going down. The totems are going down too.

Now the "cultural" part. "Hymn to the North".

"Dude. They're on the Tundra. How'd they do that?" Margo: "Lights. Watch this." Constellations being projected onto the audience.

A bear! A Spirit Bear puppet. The audience has flashlights. The ice is cracking. The peoples separate. The water calms. Orca whales spout. Becoming schools of salmon. Totems. "The Sacred Grove." Margo keeps telling me: "Watch this." And then there's Sarah Maclachlan.

This is Sarah writing:Hi reporter Sarah speaking nice lights song coming on soon
maybe K.D lang
Me: Barber's Adagio now
Sarah: Japanese person on the moon now playing Irish music
Me: Sounds Celtic now. French? Lots of fiddlers. Margo says there were Fall leaves falling all over the stadium. Punk fiddler in mohawk and leather trousers. Turkey in the Straw. Lots of kilts.

Tap dancing. On lots of maple leaves. "Devil in the Kitchen." Dancers with shoes on fire.

"Who Has Seen the Wind?" Narration: I'm guessing it's got to be Donald Sutherland.

Joni Mitchell singing now. "Clouds". Both Sides Now. Girl in a harness flying around the stadium. Wheat fields erupt from the water wherever she lands.

An electrical storm turning into a blizzard. "A mountain is being born." "Peaks of "Endeavour." Skiers in red descending.

Sarah and Margo: "Get ready".

Skiers ascending. Video projections onto mountain. Ice skaters at base. They're skating. Where the totems rose. How did they do that?

Now, some slam poetry. Sarah: "Here it comes."

"We Are More." "We are the True North, strong and free. We didn't just say it, we made it be."

"Dad, this is the good part. See? And these are all people."

Jean Furlong. Nodar Kumaritashatvi.

Sarah: You Bo-Zo you copied everything I said.PS don't delete this.

Ignore Sarah.

Sarah: curse you!

The torch relay ends soon.

Sarah: yeah and your still a Bo-Zo!

Right. And. The president of the International Olympic Committee. Now the address is in French. Margo thinks it's a plea to the world to cease war during the Olympic games.

Sarah wants to write again: I can't believe you actully agreed that your a Bo-Zo oh
by the way your a booger brain.

Now it's k.d. Yes, I used lowercase. Margo tipped me off Wednesday. "Short hair. Big suit. Hallelujiah." Little candles in the audience. She's barefoot.

Sarah is a spanking head. She is a stinky butt. There. I am retoring her petty claims.

The flag is carried by Betty Fox, mother of Terry Fox. And Donald Sutherland. And Anne Murray. Bobby Orr. The Olympic Hymn. The RCMP hoists the Olympic flag.

Sarah claims the opera singing is like burping.

Margo: Yes, it involves air.

Sarah: You can see her armpits. They're quite hairy.

Margo: They're just shadows.

One minute silence.

The Olympic Oath. "A Little Higher. A Little Further."

The Olmpic flame. And who is the last runner? Rick Hansen. Sarah met him. And next, Catriona Le May Doan. Then ... Steve Nash. Then, Nancy Greene. Next ... Wayne Gretzky. He's now holding still. Where's the cauldron? "A problem with the hydraulic system." Maybe only three of four expected pillars? They're lit.

Fireworks outside.

Wayne Gretzky runs to light the cauldron. He's outside. Being transported. Police escort. Toward ... Canada Place? They just crossed Hastings. Now running. Now lighting something. At waterfront? Diagonal pillars alight. Looks like Superman's Fortress of Solitude.

Fireworks. Good night.