The hockey shirt part two
The old city
This experience was like a time travel many years in the past. We had a group of about 12 with a tour guide. As I remember the main journey was to ascend the ancient streets of Jerusalem to end at the High Point of Golgotha where Jesus was crucified. The journey there stopped at each “station of the cross” where Jesus, carrying his cross, stop for rest. He was being whipped by the Roman soldiers on the way to his death. Each of the stations of the cross are very clear and the wearing down of the markers by touch, caress, or kiss is very evident. This is confirmation of almost 2000 years of devoted followers.
This was all inspiring and historical, but there was more to this journey as well. In the narrow ancient streets there are many store/shops, mostly Arab, selling their wares.
These places were also very intriguing for me. I did have a video camera, and was very active recording these remarkable experiences.
As usual, I was always at the tail end of our group. One site on my right hand side as I ascended, caught my attention and I went in. There were many fascinating items, but what caught my notice was a Toronto Maple Leafs jersey, that had been there for sometime. It had the Maple Leaf crest in the middle but was dirty and had a small stain on the left front chest. The words Toronto Maple Leafs were in a Hebrew skip script. That was indeed a find for me. I was about to purchase it, when our guide came to me and told me that I wasn’t holding up the entire group. My choice was, disappointingly to follow her.
The rest of the tour was magnificent as expected, but I was left with a hole in my heart about not getting that Toronto jersey.
Several years later, at home, I was talking to my next-door neighbour , Art.
He and his wife were about to depart for a tour of Israel. This involved a group mostly Canadians, that would tour Israel by bus and stay in hotels along the route.
On their itinerary was Jerusalem. The chances were slim, but my hopes were reawakened. I explained to Art about that shirt. I requested that if he were lucky enough to find it that I would be highly appreciative of him getting it for me. He agreed.
As their tour progressed, and the participants got to know each other, the guys, over a drink, would discuss many things about their own interests. Art mentioned the Toronto hockey shirt, in a small store. As you were ascended the stations of the cross, it would be on the right hand side. He could give no other details except it was a faded shirt with a stain on the left chest and Hebrew graphics.
It seems, that the male members of the group , searching for this item, it became a more important endeavour than the many other historical sites.
To their great surprise and satisfaction, the shirt was located and purchased then brought back home.
Art proudly presented this to me on his return.
This was indeed the shirt. It was carefully washed, and has now become one of my many prized possessions in my “neat stuff room”.