Oiler fan in Cowtown

You don't pick your team...your team sort of picks you.  I don't remember exactly when I became and Oiler fan.  I know I wasn't born one because they weren't even an NHL team when I was born.  But I don't ever remember cheering for anyone else.  I have vague memories of Stanley Cup hype in the early '80s.  I have a memory of being in the food court at Bower Place Mall in Red Deer (waaaaay before the current renovation when it had a dark, brick, sunken living room feel to it) and seeing Bill Ranford.  My Dad pointed him out and made us walk past him a couple of times to make sure it was really him.  I don't think we said anything to him. 


I remember the '87 Canada Cup when we had Grant Fuhr's game-worn jersey in our house while Dad was arranging a silent auction for the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.  In the sixth grade, we had moved to Sherwood Park and the Oilers won their last Stanley Cup.  I carried a 'Go Oilers Go' sign I had crafted (complete with newspaper collage) to school every day for a week.


Now, I have no illusions about my team.  I know they're run by the biggest bunch of idiots this side of the Ford family.  I know that they're forever rebuilding.  I know the joy of landing a first overall draft pick...for three consecutive years. And with every one, the fear that they may pull a Lindros and refuse to play for us.  I love being surprised when they win.  But still, they're my team.


I love being at Rexall Place (for any event) and seeing the words, THIS IS OIL COUNTRY.  But, I don't live in Oil Country - I live in Cowtown.  Home of the Red Mile.  Where Flames burn brightly.
When I moved to Calgary, I knew it would be tough but I proudly put up my Oilers stickers in my new office.  They paled in comparison to the giant Flames logo looking down on me from the flag hung in the office next to mine but up they stayed.  This year, the Flames have actually been exciting to watch.  They're so close to nailing down a playoff spot for the first time in what seems like forever and you can feel the excitement in the city which would be great to be a part of.  But, I just can't bail on my team.


Friends have told me I can cheer for both of them...these friends obviously didn't grow up in Alberta.  So, I will cheer like crazy for my team when the Flames play the Oilers in Edmonton this weekend. Even if an Oiler win means the Flames don't make the playoffs.  And I will anxiously await next season...because next year, we're making the playoffs!  Or, we'll land a great young draft pick.

Holy Hiatus, Batman!

There really are no excuses...well, maybe there are a few.  I haven't had a home computer that functions worth anything for almost 4 years.  I do most of what I need on my phone.  20 years ago we didn't even have a cell phone in our family and now we can do everything we used to do on a desktop computer while standing in line at Safeway.  I've been busy realizing that doing the same thing every day wasn't working and moved my life to a new city.  I've been blessed with two amazing little nephews and would rather spend time with them than do anything else.  I've made new friends, worked hard to keep in touch with old friends and have completely neglected my tiny, opinionated corner of the internet.


I have a new home computer now and I still have a lot of opinions that require more characters than Twitter allows so I think I'll start sharing them again here.  I would love to be able to write every day but that expectation may be a little lofty.  I'll think I'll consider myself successful if I don't go another 6 years without posting.