Lauren Hart
09-29-2010, 09:45 AM
Last Tuesday I walked out on the ice again for the millionth time.
Okay well maybe that’s an exaggeration but for me it actually is a
lifetime spent with the Philadelphia Flyers. Waiting, hoping and
singing our team on. Hard to believe a few months before I finally
watched the Stanley Cup make it’s way to our ice only to see it handed
over to the other team. So close. But as Dad always told me “Just wait
a few short months and it all begins again.....” Kate Smith and I
sang our hearts out as we all watched the most exciting post season
since I first remember walking out through the zamboni entrance.
I never planned on being the “anthemist” for so long but life happens
and as it turns out there could have been no more perfect place for me
to call home. Kinda scary walking out there as the “daughter of.....”.
Those are some pretty amazing shoes to fill, but I have always felt
welcomed. As time has gone by the loyalty of the fans and the way they
have stood by me and cheered through good and bad can never be
replaced. My heart still races each and every time I get ready to open
the game and each time I wonder if I can sing it bigger, better, and
sweeter than the last. I have loved every minute of it and now I am
once again waiting in the wings thinking this could be our year.
The first pre-season game came without much fanfare. The only thing
on the edge was the parking lot while Flyers fans tried to get by all
the fans coming in for the Phils game as they try and make their way
to another World Series. The building seemed so empty compared to how
we left things. The Wachovia is now the Wells Fargo. Just a fair amount
of fans, no tv trucks camped outside, no interviews, no Kate Smith
split screen video, the hallway was quiet, and the buzz just wasn’t
there. That is until you looked down onto the ice and saw our guys. I
have seen a lot of pre season games where everyone looked like they
were just going through the motions waiting for the real event to
start but, this year it’s different. It was a pretty good game and a
shoot out win against the Devils. This is always a good feeling no
matter what team they bring. Maybe it’s me but they were really
playing, fighting, and that little extra magic still seemed to be
floating around. Is it just wishful thinking? I’m not sure if we can
even come close to what we did this last playoff run, but now we know
just how real the Cup coming to Philadelphia can be.
So it begins again and I along with thousands of other true blue Flyer
fans will be there every game. From the puck drop on opening night til
the very end. One thing I do know for sure is that we all will be
thinking the same thing. “This could be our year............”.
Lauren Hart
Okay well maybe that’s an exaggeration but for me it actually is a
lifetime spent with the Philadelphia Flyers. Waiting, hoping and
singing our team on. Hard to believe a few months before I finally
watched the Stanley Cup make it’s way to our ice only to see it handed
over to the other team. So close. But as Dad always told me “Just wait
a few short months and it all begins again.....” Kate Smith and I
sang our hearts out as we all watched the most exciting post season
since I first remember walking out through the zamboni entrance.
I never planned on being the “anthemist” for so long but life happens
and as it turns out there could have been no more perfect place for me
to call home. Kinda scary walking out there as the “daughter of.....”.
Those are some pretty amazing shoes to fill, but I have always felt
welcomed. As time has gone by the loyalty of the fans and the way they
have stood by me and cheered through good and bad can never be
replaced. My heart still races each and every time I get ready to open
the game and each time I wonder if I can sing it bigger, better, and
sweeter than the last. I have loved every minute of it and now I am
once again waiting in the wings thinking this could be our year.
The first pre-season game came without much fanfare. The only thing
on the edge was the parking lot while Flyers fans tried to get by all
the fans coming in for the Phils game as they try and make their way
to another World Series. The building seemed so empty compared to how
we left things. The Wachovia is now the Wells Fargo. Just a fair amount
of fans, no tv trucks camped outside, no interviews, no Kate Smith
split screen video, the hallway was quiet, and the buzz just wasn’t
there. That is until you looked down onto the ice and saw our guys. I
have seen a lot of pre season games where everyone looked like they
were just going through the motions waiting for the real event to
start but, this year it’s different. It was a pretty good game and a
shoot out win against the Devils. This is always a good feeling no
matter what team they bring. Maybe it’s me but they were really
playing, fighting, and that little extra magic still seemed to be
floating around. Is it just wishful thinking? I’m not sure if we can
even come close to what we did this last playoff run, but now we know
just how real the Cup coming to Philadelphia can be.
So it begins again and I along with thousands of other true blue Flyer
fans will be there every game. From the puck drop on opening night til
the very end. One thing I do know for sure is that we all will be
thinking the same thing. “This could be our year............”.
Lauren Hart