I Miss Curling

 I miss curling. It was an important part of my life for most of my life. I started playing at 14. I was a competitive curler for 53 years and I had the honour of representing PEI at six national championships. I curled with many different people in three territories and four provinces.

Curling is a sport you can play socially, recreationally, semi-competitively, and very competitively right to the Olympics. Every game starts by shaking hands with team you're about to play wishing them good luck and good game. It ends same same way by shaking hands and thanking the opposition for a good game. You never lose in curling because you either win the game or you win a drink with the winning team buying. Unlike most sports, there are no on-ice officials. When a rule is broken, the curlers admit it and the appropriate action is taken. Honesty, fairness, respect are all part of the game, but it is also intensely competitive.

Unlike most team sports where you have outstanding play by one or two individuals, every shot in curling requires and involves the whole team. The skip calls the shot. The player delivering the stone must understand what the skip wants in terms of how heavy it's thrown and the rotation of the stone. As the stone comes down the ice, the skip calls direction and the two sweepers judge the speed of the rock. Back and forth communication through each shot is almost constant. It truly is a total team effort.

For two years on PEI I played with Ted MacFadyen's team. Ted was skip, I played third, Sandy Foy was second and Mike Coady was lead. It was a wonderful two years. These guys are fun and funny and play a very good game. Ted sent me note reminding me of something we used to do before a big game. We would put on a song called Tournament of Hearts by The Weakerthans. The chorus was a sing-along and Ted's harmonies were perfect. Here is Ted's note to me and I've added a YouTube link to the song so you can sing along.

"You were talking about sharing memories and while driving into Summerside today, there is one part of the drive that almost always invokes a curling memory, a memory from 2008. When driving into the Silver Fox for our games, as we rounded Reeds Corner, a certain member of our curling team, (I believe it was the third) would start playing the "Tournament of Hearts" song by The Weakerthans. I think it became our inspiration anthem song which propelled us to a win and a fantastic trip to PA, Sask [for the national seniors championships]. Many fond memories of curling with and against you Craig and I will always cherish our friendship. Thinking of you on your "journey" and enjoy time with your family."

CHORUS

"Why, why can't I draw right up to what I want to say?"

"Why can't I ever stop where I want to stay?"

We roll right through our years

We drift right through our months

I slide through our days

I'm always throwing hack weight

Right off, no never never ever ever

Right off, no never never ever never

Right off, no never ever never ever

Right off

Team members from L-R: Brisa Wang, Craig, Amy Zhang, Thomas Dong