I shouldn't be surprised by the skating at this year's BMO Canadians; it is exceeding my expectations.  I was a little surprised that a long line-up of ladies was willing to let me jump the queue in the ladies' room in order to allow me to ...ahem...powder my nose...as I had very little time to spare.  There were two things that caught me by surprise:

The first had to be the incredible short program performance from Cynthia Phaneuf which left me speechless.  Beautiful, artistic and powerful it represented to me the very best of women's figure skating.  She is leading after the short program and in some ways what happens tomorrow is irrelevant as the moment today was powerful enough to be "skating" memorable meaning I will always remember the details of the event and the skater and the music.

The second was my reaction to "the power of a family".   In the moments before Tessa Virtue and Scott Moirskated their original dance, the camera zoomed in on a group of fans in the stands wearing red t-shirts.  A closer look and it was rows and rows of Moirs.  Not all of them have the last name Moir to be sure, some are just honourary Moirs and likely a Virtue or 2 as well I would guess.  Uncle Paul  (Moir) told me yesterday, that on boxing day it was decided that they would have some t-shirts made up to support Tessa and Scott at Canadian.  It started out to be just a few and the eventual number of t-shirts ordered ballooned to about 120 or so.   The coolest thing was to see big brothers Danny and Charlie unfold a banner supporting their young brother unaware they were being observed by the camera. (Did I mention that Danny and Charlie were among the first to be invited to be N'Ice Guys?  It's a very small world!  They weren't able to come to Italy so had to resign themselves to honourary NG status)

In any event, Tessa and Scott skated to Flamenco music and were so powerful and dramatic I could feel my own heart thumping in my chest while I watched them.  When the program finished I watched on the screen as the camera captured their excited embrace first and then went to where Scott's parents were sitting.  There is something about the faces of proud parents that gets me every time.  Caught by surprise at the look of pride and love on their faces, I had to take a moment to compose myself.

This kind of surprise is my very favourite kind. - am still smiling.

My surprise at the typos I will find on Monday when I get a chance to proof this - less than favourite.

After settling into my hotel in London, I discovered having forgotten a couple of key items namely a toothbrush and toothpaste and for some strange reason my make-up brushes.  I am old enough and smart enough to know that I am no longer able to apply make-up with just my fingers (something has to hold the glasses in place) and a bread knife is also no longer an option for security reasons and ease of spreadability.

in any event, I went for an amble and located where I could buy a toothbrush/toothpatse got distracted, and, I wasn't going to admit this, but also picked up the current issue of People (for the tub)...what is going on with Kate Gosselin's hair???

Now for the skating part:  I  headed towards the beautiful John Labatt Centre to see what was going on and saw the last half of the ice dance practice here at the BMO Camadian Figure Skating Championship.

It is the same for me every time I walk in on the set-up day at a competition. The combination of the lights, the building, the skaters on the ice has the power to make time stand still for me. I just stand there and take it all in between quick hellos with old friends and colleagues.  It feels private, almost like you are backstage before a show, as the only ones in the building at this time are those somehow connected in a working way to the event.

On the ice were defending Canadian champions, Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir who did a run-through of their free dance including a new exit from their "goose" lift and their poise, connection and maturity is spellbinding.  In flamenco styled costumes were Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje, running through their OD and looking glamorous and dramatic like matinee idols from old school Hollywood.  In a gorgeous shade of purple were Vanessa Crone and Paul Poirier working on seamless footwork sequences with a freshness that is totally engaging. 

On the ice the skaters seem all grown-up and  ready to take on the world.

Off the ice, like every other kid on the planet, they just want to do their best.

Sitting on the bus to head back to the hotel, Vanessa and Paul sat behind me and wanted to know about my holidays and to talk about their own and giggling nervously at the prospect of the mid-term exams that await both of them next week and the lack of study time here. 

You have to do a double take.  Here are those same 2 people who just minutes ago were the picture of adult maturity and here they are talking just like teenagers.  Then you remember, it is because they are just teenagers.

If you are like me and are a parent I want you to think about the commitment it has taken these kids to get here and to honour that with your applause if you are in the building and admiration if you are not.  Heaven knows, I can't get my own kids to commit to take out the garbage much less put themselves on the national stage for all to see and comment about.

We need to continue to remind ourselves: They're just kids.