Shoes, Ships, and Sealing Wax

Bandwagon

Last night was the first hockey game I've been to in almost a month. (Before that, it was March 9 when I took my niece, but even that game I was pinch-hitting during a week of chaos in the family.)

My father was surprised to hear I was going last night, since I usually won't on a weeknight. My mom told him "She wants to see Tampa Bay." Which was the truth...I made this morning's doctor's appointment three months ago and scheduled it so I'd be able to sleep in. It's not Tampa, it's Martin St. Louis. I'm not even ashamed of it anymore: I love watching that guy. But anyway, back to last night...

I'm not going to pretend that I haven't been really lukewarm toward the Capitals this year...or more accurately, for the past four years. I've been a touch...bitter?...since the lockout. Plus, I've been clinging stubbornly to memories of The Way We Were back at the Capital Centre when everything was good and pure, even the overtime playoff losses.

Somebody pointed out recently that the Caps traded Peter Bondra for Brook Laich. And I had to admit...yeah, that trade made sense. Here and now, you gotta like Laich...and all those guys I'd never heard of and wouldn't recognize in a parking lot. I'm tipping my hat to the management, because as bleak as it looked in November, we are now seeing that the '04 plan was sound.

So I was at the game last night, wearing my red shirt and jumping up a little quicker that usual after a goal, and I was having this internal debate.

You're jumping on the bandwagon, Nic.

I'm not! I saw my first game in 1974!

A month ago, the only player on this team you cared about was Kolzig.

I did sort of imply that after the trade deadline, didn't I?

I was watching Olie last night. (I had the flu the night he won his 300th; I really wish I had been there.) I saw him put the towel and water bottle up on the boards for Huet during breaks, which made me feel very sad.

I have heard that in the Canadiens' locker room there is inscribed a line from In Flanders Field: "To you from failing hands we throw/The torch; be yours to hold it high."

I thought of that last night. Passing the torch, or water bottle, as it were.

I also saw Kolzig talking to Huet, and to the defensemen on the bench. That made me feel a bit better. I never thought he'd be a diva, sulking if he wasn't in net, but I am glad to see him still contributing during the game.

And I saw him bang on the boards and high-five the guys on the ice after the goals. That made me enjoy the here and now a little more than I have been, even if it does look like I'm running along after the bandwagon trying to jump back on.

Posted by Nic at April 4, 2008 02:34 PM | TrackBack