Last night I went to the most awesome hockey game of all eternity. It went to a suspenseful sudden death shootout of fiery doom, and the team I was cheering for won! We had rink side tickets, directly across from the visiting teams players bench, right along the blue line in the front row. It was the first time I sat in platinum level seating. At the stadium, I gave my ticket to one of the ushers in our section and asked him where I was supposed to sit. He kind of laughed and let us know we were in the wrong area, as if to imply we were way too awesome for the commoner seating area. We were directed to go to some underground magical pathway of glory. I felt like Harry Potter the first time he arrived at Hogwarts School of Wizardry. Ahhh, the beauty of abundance, and I didn’t even need Dumbledore to make it happen. This place was magical, rooms filled with huge LCDs, loaded with alcohol and a large assortment of food. Beautifully renovated with cherry hardwood and private bathrooms and servants. Sushi chefs making fresh sushi for your gluttonous consumption. Ridiculousness. But precious, so precious.

Start of the second period, me and my better half take our seats with beers in hand. He puts his on the ledge and calls his wife. Keep in mind we’re in the first row, and the action has begun. In the platinum level, we are surrounded by suits; exec types, all carbon copies of each other carrying blackberries. The two to our left are diehard hockey fans. They also put their beers on the ledge. My buddy is still talking to his wife as she watches the game at home, trying to see if she can see him on TV. He’s standing up banging against the glass, hoping she sees him as he describes where he is sitting and what is happening on the ice. Dude is like a kid in a candy store. Just as this is happening, on the ice two players head our way and smash each other against the boards right in front of us. I’m sure you know where this is going. All I remember is this slow motion video playing through my eyes. It was like the end of A Perfect Storm. Except it wasn’t ocean water, it was beer. The next thing I remember is seeing the glass covered in beer, and the two diehards and my buddy drenched in even more beer. Our entire section was howling with laughter, including myself. “F%$! That was $50 worth of beer!” one of the diehards shouts. “That’s what the cup holders are for, dumbasses!” someone yells from the peanut gallery. More howling laughter. I am laughing so hard my stomach is hurting. Awesome. Awesomeness deluxe.

Last Friday, I had box suites across the border at a different game. Similar glory times. Free food of deliciousness proportions, unlimited booze. Just enjoying the game, cheering for the visiting team. Sitting beside us, a NHL hall of famer and one of the cities heroes. He was not impressed. Hilarity. Precious, right down to when we got pulled over for a “random” inspection and my buddy had a weapon in his truck. Never a dull moment, those are the moments I live for.

The beauty is in the moment. Walking to work and back is one of my favourite times of day. Surrounded by trees, crunching through the freshly layered snow as the sky unloads more slowflakes, each dancing to the rhythm of its music. I can see my breath in the brisk, chilly wind. Precious. The joy rises when you live in the only place your welcome to live – in the present moment. Every heartache, every death of a loved one, every child’s first words, cherish it. Every moment is precious.

I highly recommend Eckhart Tolle’s book The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment