[Cowperson]

Some highlights for me . . . . .

Alex Bilodeau on CTV, moments after winning gold, near tears as he described the inspiration provided by his cerebral palsy afflicted brother.

The lengthy clip of Marianne St. Gelais going happily and certifably nuts during the short-track speed-skating gold medal race of her boyfriend . . . . . but you haven't seen it until you add in the next morning running commentary of Seamus O'Regan from Canada A.M. Absolutely hilarious.

A key emotional turning point for the Canadian team at these Games, even though we were told ahead of time the second half of the Olympics would be better than the first, was Scott Moir with Tessa Virtue belting out an unabashed, arms extending rendition of "O'Canada" on the medal podium. From that moment on, the Canadian team started to pick up speed.

Jon Montgomery's larger-than-life, beer-swilling walk through Whistler, ending with auctioning off half a pitcher of beer on national television. The headlines should have screamed "Car Salesman/Auctioneer/Everyman Wins Olympic Gold." In that moment, we all wanted to be him. It seemed to one of the other key, emotional turning points for Canada in these Games.

Melissa Hollingsworth's tearful, heartfelt apology to the nation . . . . . wholly unnecessary but we accepted it for it's honesty then gave her a collective hug.

As she settled into her start position, a grimace of pain fleeted across the face of Joannie Rochette, brutally crushed almost immediately as she blanked out the death of her mother for just a few more minutes . . . . . and then skated a flawless performance before melting before our eyes. Her interview with Bob Costas, where she philosophically described her next important duty, teaching her father to look after himself, cooking, cleaning and doing the laundry, "all the things mama had done for us," confirmed her character if we had any doubts.

Jen Heil in a television interview pretending that silver was okay as the tears started to flow, the realization that she wouldn't be the first Canadian to win gold on home soil starting to hit.

The sheer power and co-ordination of the Canadian three-man long-track men's speedskating pursuit team as they rounded that final corner on their way to Gold.

Lindsay Vonn and Julie Mancusco of the USA racing for glory in the brilliant sunshine of the first week, skill and power wrapped in beauty and icy determination.

Biathlon . . . . . I might be the only one who thinks it's an awesome sport.

Mounds of cross-country skiers from all nations laid out in utter exhaustion after every single race.

Ashleigh MacIvor leaning forward, chin in hand and waxing philosophical on brainiac topics with CTV's Brian Williams. I might be smitten . . . . . with MacIvor of course.

The disappearance of all those protestors/anarchists from the first week, hopefully suitably embarrassed.

That America could win a big, big swack of Olympic medals on Canadian soil and we genuinely didn't seem to care much one way or the other. Perhaps we're finally growing up and are getting comfortable in our own skin.

The brilliant reposte in the Closing Ceremonies to the icicle debacle.

Late yesterday morning, the dogs and I were sitting on a hillside west of Turner Valley in brilliant, hot sunshine, the white mountains stretching in front of us, not a breath of wind, just an amazingly, dead quiet, peaceful scene . . . . . reluctantly, very reluctantly I looked at my watch and got up, arriving at home just as the puck was dropping on one of the most intensely pressure-packed hockey games in history. I nearly couldn't take the contrast by the time it was done.

Cowperson