Semifinal

I was greatly anticipating this match-up between NS and Canada, but I was to be disappointed. Canada played awesome, and I feared that they’d peaked in this game, one game too early. The crowd was a large and a little unruly; several people started shouting “move the camera”, as the CBC cameramen were kinda in the way. The TSN people never caused these problems! These shouts caught Jennifer’s attention once or twice as she stood in the house.

Colleen was a little dejected throughout. There were lots of crazy things going on between the ends (a tricycle race on the ice, a tower-building contest with toilet paper) and at one point there was the chicken dance. The whole audience got up and did it, and Jill and Cathy got into it, dancing and twirling each other around. The wave occurred again, and it started near where Jennifer was standing and she gave a sort of bemused oh no look at the crowd. Cathy swore (or close to it) and made a face and they replayed it on the big screen: the crowd cracked up at it, as did Jill.

After the fourth end, the curlers not in the semifinal came through the stands to collect for the Sandra Schmirler foundation as is tradition. We had Eve Bélisle and her 2^nd (Martine Comeau), and also the ever-adorable Amy Nixon who came through belatedly (“has somebody already been here?") but still got extra donations because, well, she's Amy Nixon. Cathy King and Lori Armitstead were nearby—in short, a good assortment of all my favourites (except Newfoundland).

The game ended early after Jennifer made a pressure-filled but relatively routine double takeout to score four in the 8^th—the score was 10-4. And my team had made it to the final, shockingly enough. There was no great celebration by Team Canada, nor a massive cheer for Jennifer, though the crowd did give a standing ovation. Colleen’s team gathered together on the home end and talked for quite a while.

I was disappointed that the game didn’t last longer. Probably not as disappointed as Colleen! I was very emotional and spent quite a while walking around town before returning home. I was lonely and went twice to the Heart Stop Lounge in hopes of finding someone I knew, but to no avail so I walked slowly home (after visiting that grand Catholic cathedral downtown). My adopted family arrived not 10 minutes later, and suddenly I had company and was lonely no more.

I felt that BC would cream Canada—surely they couldn’t string three good games in a row, while BC had played so consistently well all week. I couldn’t imagine that Kelly Scott would blow this second chance at a major championship.

The kids kept asking me about the curling and I showed them the newspapers and explained about Team Canada. I later learned that they sat and watched the entire final, cheering for Team Canada. Apparently I have created two new fans.