believing in blue

This picture was taken at our last game this season in Rexall. In three weeks we'll have seen the Canucks play three times, and that makes me happier than I can really put into words. <3 We look so happy and silly in this picture for people who would be so filled with rage and shame and sadness by the end of the night. Not because our team lost. Not even close, but because of general douchebaggery of Oiler fans.

I am unapologetically a fanatic for the Canucks. I don’t miss games, on tv, ever, barring something messing up with the vcr, yes I still use a vcr, shush. Point is I don't miss their games in some way shape or form, I've been to see them play all over Canada, Florida, and California and many more locations to come. I love them more than is probably good for and or healthy for me. I admit it fully. But I have never been and never will be the kind of fan that gets in anyone's face about it. I am so thankful and happy and almost feeling blessed that I have gotten to see them as much as I have.

Part of getting to see them and living where I do (in a chief rival's city) means sitting in the opposing teams rink wearing the away team's jersey. Not a friendly place to be. Not even close. We're not talking about 'oh I really don't like your team' or the usual kind of chirping. Me and my sister have sat apart sometimes and I had to stop wearing Canucks clothes to the games, it was too scary to walk out after alone. Not just the things screamed at us as we walked out, but the times we got shoved and had people get right in our faces to intimidate. This last game, the Canucks lost, there were a lot of extenuating circumstance, a death 'in the family' a crazy long road trip, blah blah blah whatever else, they lost. And as we walked out of the building, someone tried to shove us. Someone told us to go back where we came from. Once we assured them we were in fact from here, they called us 'dumb bitch' and then 'fat bitch'. And then there was just so much more abuse of the same sort heaped on us as we walked out.

I think this crosses a line. I love my team. But I would never, ever speak to someone like that, not for any reason whatsoever in regards to sports. There may be other circumstances in my life that I would, such as under direct attack, the kid that shoved a gun in my sis's face, that guy I could cheerfully do some real damage to if we knew who it was, but I digress. I can be a bitch and even a bit of a douchebag to people, but my god, to full on attack someone, and it did feel like an attack, it just crossed so many lines for me. I live here and this is is my city too, but that team and those fans, they are not… anything I want to be associated with. I always joke about exile in Oiler country, but it does feel like that sometimes.

This last week we were in Vancouver for a game. And it felt like… like coming home. I don’t know how to put it into words any better than that. This Wednesday we're flying back to Vancouver for a playoff game and I know standing there waving my towel and cheering and Louuu-ing that I'll get all teared up and be filled with so much love that my heart won't know what to do with it's self. I've paid way too much to go there and have to beg to get the day off, but for me to have that feeling. To be blessed enough to see these boys that I love so much, entertain me and make me so proud… it's priceless and it's amazing. I love them.