June 15th, 2011: Farhan's day

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Farhan Lalji

June 15th, 2011: Farhan's day

Post by Farhan Lalji »

June 15th, 2011: Farhan's day

This won't surprise a lot of you......nor should it......if you know who I am and what the Vancouver Canucks mean to me, but my mind re-visits June 15th 2011 quite frequently. Although my thoughts of June 15th are far less, I revist this day atleast once a week in my mind.

Long story short - June 15th was probably the most surreal and emotionally charged day of my life. Looking back on it, I am amazed that I could ever feel that passionate and that fired up about ANYTHING in life....and for that, I am grateful.
I only had about 3 hours and 40 minutes of sleep that night, but I woke up......READY.....ready to see my favorite hockey team win the Stanley Cup. I didn't know what to do with my stored up energy, and so I did the only thing that I could think of: Push-ups.

I did 4 sets of 45, followed by 1 set of 20. Normally, I wouldn't be able to do anything like that but I did those 200 push-ups without much effort at all. Seriously.

After a quick breakfast followed by prayer, I decided to skip my study session for the day (I was studying at the time) and hike downtown to downtown Vancouver from my place (about a 3 hour hike). Walking down to downtown Vancouver was an experience in itself. Most people in my building knew me as the "crazy Canuck guy" (due to my ridiculous beard, my constant wearing of the jersey, along with my constant conversation about the NHL), and so people in my building actually high-fived and hugged me as I walked out of my apartment......knowing that I was going to hike downtown. In a weird kind of way, I felt like a celebrity.

The craziness continued as I hiked down Kingsway. People honked their horns at me and cheered, people high fived me on the street, and an old Chinese lady even hugged me and rubbed my head for good luck, lol.

The energy and electricity of the city was absolutely amazing.

I finally got to Rogers Arena. A guy was selling single seat tickets for $4,500. I *almost* decided to buy the ticket until common sense prevailed. I continued on West Georgia and Hamilton.

Unfortunately - the game ended tragically and my team was defeated. Riots ensued and what started as such a great day ended horrifically.

As unbelievable as this may sound, I actually developed legitimate depression about 3-4 days later. Over the following 5 weeks, I went on a massive eating binge and gained 17 lbs. Although my mind understood the fact that "it was just a game and that NO ONE, let alone a fan, should be taking anything this seriously, my heart wasn't buying it.

But - as the old saying goes, "time heals all wounds" and as the demands of my job started taking over, I started thinking about June 15th less and less. When October hit and hockey season was ready to start, I still wasn't ready to watch. I still felt a bit broken and run down.

I don't know at exactly what point I started to feel good about being a hockey fan again, but the BC Lions winning the Grey Cup (Canadian Football) really solidified me feeling 100% again. Up until that point, I had barely watched any games. I've watched almost every Canucks game since that time.

Looking back on June 15th now (and last year's playoff run), I can honestly say that I look back on it with more appreciation rather than disappointment. Everything from the Canucks Game 7 win over Chicago (Burrows' goal), our Game 5 win over San Jose, our Game 2 win over Boston, the skytrain singing, the random high fives, the random "we want the cup!" chants throughout the city, the brilliant regular season the Canucks had prior to the playoffs, and the numerous individual accomplishments that many Canuck players achieved throughout the season.......has given me tremendous memories that will last a life time.

I would even go as far as saying that April 2011 to June 2011 was the greatest two month time span in my entire life......and that the only thing literally missing from that, was the storybook ending.

I don't know if I'll ever see my beloved hockey team ever win a cup, but I do know one thing: I'll be on this "ride" forever. The highs, the lows, the greatness, the disappointments, etc., etc. I'll be a fan for life.

As always, Go Canucks Go. 8-)
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rats19
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Re: June 15th, 2011: Farhan's day

Post by rats19 »

Hike is alittle farther now though...
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Rayxor
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Re: June 15th, 2011: Farhan's day

Post by Rayxor »

That's what happens when you are all fucked up on hockey.
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Re: June 15th, 2011: Farhan's day

Post by mathonwy »

Rayxor wrote:That's what happens when you are all fucked up on hockey.
Yuuup.
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rats19
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Re: June 15th, 2011: Farhan's day

Post by rats19 »

That high end stuff can really burn a fella..need to get on a "saddle dome" program
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Farhan Lalji

Re: June 15th, 2011: Farhan's day

Post by Farhan Lalji »

Outside of 1-2 long term love interests that weren't meant to be, along with my best friend moving to England in 1993, and my Grandmother passing away in 1997, the Canucks' loss to Boston was probably the toughest thing that I've ever had to endure.

Amazing how a simple game could have that much of an effect!

It wasn't just the Canucks' loss that I felt bad about...........but I just felt incredibly bad for the city.

The one day that should have replaced Joe Carter's homer in 93' and Crosby's Gold Medal Goal in 10' as my favorite sporting memory was simply not to be.

Hopefully - this will occur in 2013. If it doesn't, then I'm afraid that the city of Vancouver will have to wait anywhere between 4-16 years.
Farhan Lalji

Re: June 15th, 2011: Farhan's day

Post by Farhan Lalji »

rats19 wrote:Hike is alittle farther now though...
Just a tad. ;)
Farhan Lalji

Re: June 15th, 2011: Farhan's day

Post by Farhan Lalji »

Rayxor wrote:That's what happens when you are all fucked up on hockey.
Definitely.

I was starting to get worried that I was developing legitimate depression. 17 lbs gain in 5 and a half weeks is a very serious thing.......not to mention, incredibly fucking stupid. Thankfully, I'm actually a major health nut 99% of the time and so the weight was extremely easy for me to work off........but as embarrassing as this sounds, I actually did talk to someone about what I was experiencing, just to make sure that I wasn't infact developing depression or whatever. (As it turns out, there was no depression).

Friends and family were getting incredibly worried about me and so I decided to stop the binging for them.

p.s.____________On that note - junk food taste's absolutely digusting when you haven't had it in awhile, but taste's incredibly good once your body gets used to it.
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Re: June 15th, 2011: Farhan's day

Post by Topper »

Moving forward.
Over the Internet, you can pretend to be anyone or anything.

I'm amazed that so many people choose to be complete twats.
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