Countdown to Vancouver: Things I'll miss in Toronto

Countdown to Vancouver 2010 Olympics: 3 days; 18 hours; 3 minutes Days until departure to Vancouver/Whistler: Departed

To: The Chiefs


I was only supposed to miss out on playing two hockey games with you guys this February.

It was just my luck, wasn’t it? Sunday morning, the day before I was to depart from Toronto to Vancouver, and my last hockey game for the next two weeks and I wake up feeling as if a couple of eighteen-wheelers rolled itself over my body.

I was pissed.

I had so much left to do that day. Only the day before, my nice, black jacket’s zipper snapped, and I had resolved to buy a new one to take with me to Vancouver. Not to mention, I wanted a decent set of earphones and formally finish packing. Oh, and play in that game with you guys against the dreaded Hakka at 8:20 PM.

But after about an hour in the company of Marty trying to shop for a coat, I simply couldn’t handle it. It wasn’t his fault. He was doing his best to make me feel comfortable and happy. I was just too tired, grouchy and in too much pain to want anything but a hot bath to sooth my tense leg muscles and my nice warm bed.

He wasn’t a happy camper. He had resolved to spend as much time with me that day as he could because of my long absence in the coming weeks, and I had to go and spoil it.

Though really, it was his fault. He gave me that stomach flu bug. Luckily I had suspected the possibility, and that day had kept mostly to fluids, which meant the “special” symptom that comes with the stomach flu was largely diverted on my part, in that I only had one major incident.

But there was no way I could play hockey that evening nonetheless. I tried. I really did. But as soon as I realized the extent of my sickness, I had to call the game in. I’d have been less than useless in my condition.

I’m glad that I was able to inform you guys in time in order to call in a replacement. And sorry it was fairly last minute. Although from what Marty told me later, most of you were basically of the opinion that only near death would keep me from playing hockey with you guys on a regular basis. And the sad part is, you’re not too far from the truth too.

I really wished I could have made it out there that day, even if only to cheer you guys on from the sidelines. I missed out on saying my good-byes to you guys and apparently I missed out on a great hockey game.

Because if there is one thing I’ll miss about Toronto, outside of the boyfriend of course, is you guys. Congrats on beating the Hakka 5-4.

Cheers!

Grace