last night the olympic torch relay came within 2 blocks of our home. i insisted my family go - it was just too close to not! as we left, we could hear helicopters circling overhead, see the reflection of flashing lights and hear the cheers in the distance.
as we arrived, i was amazed by the crowd of people that was already waiting. teenagers - waving flags and hockey sticks! children dashing in to the street - to get a better vantage point - yanked back by alarmed mothers! couples and seniors alike, cheering and waving...pouring out of houses and side streets with mere seconds to spare....
you could see the blinking lights of the police motorcade, the headlights of the caravan headlights blinded us as we strained our eyes - and then there - high above the heads of on lookers - flickering bright - there it was! the flame!
the police motorcycles buzzed past, closing down the road...then security - (in black clothed jogging suits) ran ahead - shouting to us to stand back - but smiling!
and then dressed in white from head to toe - with a flash of bright red mittens, waving and jogging - the torchbearer!
please excuse my blurry pictures - i couldn't believe how quickly the moment passed. (i set my camera on a night time setting and didn't have a split second to adjust anything!!)
but it is incredible to watch. as someone pointed out - that bit of flame is the only one alive at that moment - it has come from greece and been kept alive along a many thousand mile journey...
i don't think jayme was as excited as we were...but no matter! it was fun! as we walked home with some neighbors, we relished the moment - and realized we will look back at this time as once in a lifetime!