Metro Vancouver's Newest Canada Line

Amidst a great deal of hoopla, hullabaloo, and fanfare, Metro Vancouver's latest pride, the Canada Line was inaugurated day before yesterday. The $ 2 billion Canada Line is the newest sky train line connecting the downtown core of Vancouver to the Vancouver International Airport in Richmond. The ambitious project had been in the making since 2005, much to the chagrin of business owners along its route and the indignation of countless others who were inconvenienced by its construction. Anyways, as a true Vancouverite, I was quite happy that all's well that ends well!

Well, Monday, August 17th was D-day and the public was invited to ride it for free from 1 PM to 9 PM. Besides the Premier of B.C. declaring it open,there was excitement galore at each station (16 in all) - concerts, entertainment for children, free cake, pizza, etc., etc. I must admit the excitement was a little infectious, so I asked the kid,"Shall we go for a ride on the Canada Line?" Came the quick retort,"Why would you want to ride on a train?" Translation: "Are you out of your mind?" I mumbled something lamely and went about my work.

Came the husband who turned on the 12 o'clock news and there was the excitement all over again! Probably, the husband didn't want to dampen my schoolgirl-like enthusiasm, so he said, "Hey, wanna go for a ride?" When the kid was asked to get ready, his next question was,"Don't you go to work by train everyday?" Translation: " Get a life, people!" Well, this time, the Dad and I together mumbled,"You know what, this is such a historic moment. We must be proud to be a part of history, blah...blah...blah."

Anyways, to cut the story short, we did make it to Richmond by car, hoping to take the new and improved sky train from there to Vancouver, and then return the same way. We parked 6 blocks away at a place the husband was familiar with, and when we were three blocks from the train station, we noticed a lot of people and activity on the streets. "Is there a street festival going on in Richmond?" I enquired, wondering how on earth I could have missed that. The kid just rolled his eyes. Translation:" It's not just you guys who are lame, but there's a million others out here as well!"

It so happened that 80,000 other people had the same brilliant idea as mine to be a part of history! We also heard people talk of their having been in line for well over 2 hours. It wasn't just being able to get on to a train, but one couldn't return by the same train...one had to get off and wait another 2 hours to get on to a different train, just so everyone could ride the Canada Line. There was no speaking after that...we did an about turn and marched right back to our car. I sensed a straightening of the shoulder and a swagger in the kid's walk. Translation: "I told you so!"

The husband bought us icecream from the drive through at McDonald's. We licked our icecream cones in silence and returned home. Lessons learned:1) listen to the kid...he's (always?) right. Nah...I'll go with "mostly right." 2) Don't think you have a great idea....so will a million others!
3) Don't try to be a part of history.

I live in New Westminster, in a heritage area where all the street signs boast,"Historic Brow of the Hill." I guess that's about all how I can be a part of history!!!