It was on this day...

I couldn't think of anything more appropriate than to have on this day,  a celebration of the "Maple Leaf" flag as we know it- which began to blow proudly in the breezes on flag poles from ocean to ocean on this day 45 years ago.  After our first gold medal win on home turf at the Olympics yesterday, the Canadian flag blows even prouder in those winds with an even greater sense of pride and loyalty, with any reservations or  typical Canadian subtleties right out the window.  We finally claimed our gold and the story behind the win is a true fairy tail that brings tears to anyones eyes that has the opportunity to hear about it.  We as Canadians wave our flag proudly, we don't see it on every other house traveling down residential streets, nor do we see it plastered to bumpers of cars throughout the land, but we don't need to.   We have a reserved, calm about where we live and how proud we are, and thats what makes us a great nation.  During the opening ceremonies of the Olympics, Shane Koyczan spoke words that couldn't have been more fitting about who we are, how proud we feel, and how much we could relate to each analogy so perfectly, in our everyday lives.  When we are proud, we show it.  When we are sad, we can relate.  When we feel, we will let you know.. and that is exactly how the country is reacting to this incredible sense of pride today.
We didn't need a gold medal to feel this proud, we already were, but it feels really good knowing we finally made it on the world stage, and to have that sense of being able to relate to that stranger on the street knowing that we live in a great country, and city, that can accept and doesn't require assimilation to be a truly proud Canadian.