First Date of the Year

I'm giving this post an optimistic title

with anticipation of more to come

in this year that will mark a special anniversary for us.

On Saturday we spent part of the afternoon in Vancouver

and I was happy to see the shops and the city still decked out with lights

as we missed it before Christmas.

This was the scene we passed as we walked over to Rogers Arena for the evening game.

One of my favorite things about attending a hockey game is 

being there to rise for the national anthems!

My phone camera may not do the scene the justice it deserves,

but I thought I'd post pictures for those who have not seen

how beautiful the rink looks with the  appropriate lighting as

the players stand at attention in honor of their country.

I love that two countries can be represented and honored in this way.

I may be alone in this, but the only thing I miss when being at a game

is the play by play that you get on TV.

Sometimes you can almost hear a pin drop as all you hear is the slapping of the puck

and it's all good, 

but somehow my earliest memories of games visualized over radio,

still want to include that excited voice of Jim Robson.

We enjoyed our pizza and Pepsi 

and the excitement of the crowd as the game progressed.

The highlight was when the crowd erupted into a

long standing ovation for Hendrik Sedin on scoring 

 his 200th goal for the Vancouver Canucks.

Always fun to be part of a proud moment when it happens . . .

even when we really can take no credit.