A Quick Recap of 2010 (before the year of the RABBIT)

This past year was a healthy one for our family and for the most part, our extended family. The year started off by exchanging homes in order to stay in Vancouver for the Olympics for more than a month. Was totally shocked on April Fool's Day. My daughter who is working towards a masters degree at the East West Center, University of Hawaii did not give an advance notice of an awesome Easter/birthday visit. After house-sitting in Hawaii, spent a good part of the summer at the Jersey Shore where I enjoyed my brother and his family and my incredibly wonderful former classmates and friends. Had several house guests including my grandniece, Kelsey, and my two sisters, Lois and Joan "Jodi". Then flew North with my sisters for a week in Tacoma, Washington and on my way home totally enjoyed good conversations with my son in San Francisco. (to be continued...must go party...happy new year...)

Transformation in Olympic Transportation

For the most part, Olympic transportation has always been fun for me. Exciting energy sort of bursts out into a festive event TO and FROM many of the events. But not always. During the first week that I was in Vancouver there were several local doubting faces on the city buses. After Opening Ceremony the city bus climate changed and many of the locals gradually joined the festivity and joined the fun olympic craziness. Toward the end of the games almost everyone in the city was celebrating. Most of Canada caught the olympic fever. Even bus drivers who had to change routes often to help keep the street walkers smiling and the happy crowds flowing could have been extremely frustrated, sang! Yup! How cool is that.

Olympic Trading; Postal Cards, Tickets, and Pins

One artistic Olympic Yachting Postal Card from the 1984 games was a good trading item for me. It featured five yachts with their brightly colored sails. Not everyone collects stamps but almost everyone wanted to take home olympic memorabilia. Because it was a first day issue date, most stamp collectors were thrilled to have one. One of the most artistic Olympic tickets was from the 100th anniversary of the modern Olympic Games in 1996. Often, whoever sat near me got one of my "regalos". So, along with many of my pins, these items were a hit in Canada. Didn't trade every day, just when the Olympic trading spirit came my way.