Dear CTV...Hope you enjoyed your lunch in Terrace!

Dear CTV (Canadian Television),
My very large family spread out all over the world and myself were so excited to watch my brother carry the Olympic torch through Terrace, British Columbia today. You can imagine how proud we all were. In fact, see my earlier post on the subject. We were even more excited that you have a "Live website feed" for all of us relatives and friends to watch this special moment from so far away.

We've been counting down the days, sharing emails, tweets, FB messages, etc...all waiting anxiously for the moment when my brother would carry the torch those 300 meters.

We all logged onto the site well in advance, watching the truck make its way into Terrace and getting used to the on and off again camera, sure that once it made its way into town, you'd get set up and we'd be off to the races. We were on Skype together, calling each other by phone, Facebooking, Tweeting, etc.

And then at 4:37pm EST, you tell us via your Twitter feed that you're breaking for lunch and the feed will return shortly. Actually first you told us you were entering some local community celebration and the camera, which is mounted to the truck, wouldn't be "on". How long is lunch? Define shortly. Some of us are also waiting to eat and others in EUROPE are waiting for bed. You quite obviously have the technology, it's just the communication that seems to be lacking.

Not a word. For almost two hours we waited. Noone knows if people are running while the camera crew is breaking or if EVERYONE is off for lunch. The emails, the calls, the FB/Tweets, etc. Everyone wondering and waiting. But there does seem to be one little piece of technology functional on your site. The little running man is indeed moving. Our hearts collectively sank as the reality set in: Looks like they might be running after all.

But no word from you. Not a peep. A stranger on the Facebook feed finally gives up in frustration and calls you to find out that there was some problem and apparently you'll be showing the missing runners at 4pm. Much later you've obviously finished what must have been a delicious, 5-course lunch and decide to tell us all that "Unfortunately, due to complications with the power source on Media 1, there will be no more coverage of the Relay for the rest of Day 95."

I think my husband said it best really, "In this age of communication, it's unfortunate that we can't get word to those waiting... I feel like I'm at the airport."

And yes, I've seen that YouTube video with the guy who remarks rather hilariously that we're all so spoiled and ungrateful with modern technology. This is not about that. This is about basic communication. Tell people what's going on! I managed to update my FB status second by second. And you mean to tell me noone in the whole of CTV couldn't update ANYTHING for almost 2 whole hours?

Guess noone's brother/sister/mother/father/aunt/uncle/cousin/co-worker/butcher/baker/candle stick maker at CTV was running today.