Meaford resident and business owner Tanya Vesely was selected to travel to Vancouver to volunteer as a paramedic for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. Tanya will be sending updates from Whistler describing her experience, and letting her fellow Meaford residents know what it is like to be a part of one of the biggest events in the world.
What follows is her first installment:
I woke up 10 minutes before the alarm went off, the day was finally here. I applied well over 18 months ago and it seemed like such a far off thing that it was even hard to fathom that this day would eventually come.
I am on my way to Whistler for the Olympic Winter Games of 2010.
It is 0450am and I am sitting on the floor at gate 23 at Buffalo International Airport as my plane is being de-iced and readied for boarding.
I actually have a serene feeling...I don’t think I have forgotten anything (if anything my hockey bag was actually 30 pounds over the allotted limited!), I made it through security with no issues AND the coffee place was open for a beloved, and much needed, soy latte. A perfect trifecta!
With so much to do at The Travellin’ Scrapper to make sure it carried on in my absence and making sure everything was in order before I left, I really hadn’t felt the excitement of the magnitude of this event, but while driving to Buffalo Saturday night (and knowing everything at home was in good & capable hands) the fervour of travelling to Vancouver set in.
I thought about how lucky I was to be able to represent my home town of Meaford at this historic and monumental event, about all the good wishes I had received from the many people who dropped into the store over the last few days and for the amazing support I received from friends and business people alike who support all my fund-raising efforts.
As I sit here now (still mystified by the de-icing process) my eyes are welling up with tears....I am going to the Olympics!
Let the adventure begin.....
Tanya Vesely was a Meaford Dragons' Den participant and is owner of The Travellin' Scrapper on Trowbridge St. in Meaford. You can find out more about her business by visiting her website: www.travellinscrapper.com
