I witnessed two simple yet complex and complementary events today that I thought I would share.
While walking towards Clover Point on Victoria B.C.‘s scenic Dallas road, my wife and I heard the cacophony of dozens and dozens of cars.
A wedding I thought. Wrong.
As we were approaching the spectacular vista, we were quickly surrounded by a joyous throng of Kosovar-Canadians celebrating their independence… as of today.
Young and old waved the flag of their homeland, their joy infectious and emotional. Although it took a few minutes for me to lock in on the sheer magnitude of what I was witnessing – I eventually did and felt my eyes well up with tears. I can only grasp at what these new Canadians were feeling – but on a basal level I got it.
Ironically, I had last seen the Kosovar flag some eight years ago while witnessing a significantly more sombre march down Shelbourne Street – by an impromptu collection of fighting age men brought together by tragedy and genocide some 7000 miles away.
As we walked back to our car we reflected on how the World has just changed… perhaps for the better.
Lunch today was an order of foot-long hot-dogs at the Willow Galley in Oak Bay’s Estevan village – an old favorite. While walking up to the entrance, I noticed a familiar face – Stanley Cup champion Geoff Courtnall, formerly of the Edmonton Oilers. And like any other 40-something semi-middle aged dude, I act like a teenager meeting up with one of his idols… just like three or four other guys my age did as they approached this well established fish and chip shop.
Except there is a twist to this story.
While we were all there waiting for our orders to come up, a 4-door sedan pulled up to the intersection and Geoff was the first to spot the fact that the elderly couple in the car had a flat tire. So – who is the first to volunteer to change the tire? That is right – Geoff Courtnall. While a handful of giddy dudes stood by waiting to talk story with a hockey idol from a bygone era, our Stanley Cup idol make quick work of a tire-change… seemingly in minutes.
These two events, although completely unrelated, give us moments of hope in a deeply troubled World – where we can share tears of joy with complete strangers as they wave their new flag…
and tears of laughter when 2 elderly folks are quickly sent on their way by the spontaneous gesture of a sports hero.