This is part of The Globe's 'How it felt' series that collects the stories of people who found themselves at the centre of this year's major news events. See more 'How it felt' stories in <a target="_blank" href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/toronto/globe-to/article2279235" style="color:#FF0000;text-align:left">Toronto</a>, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/article2279217" style="color:#FF0000;text-align:left">World</a>, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/british-columbia/article2279721" style="color:#FF0000;text-align:left">British Columbia</a>, <a style="color:#FF0000;text-align:left" href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/article2279302" target="_blank">National</a>, <a style="color:#FF0000;text-align:left" href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/article2279200" target="_blank">Sports</a> and <a style="color:#FF0000;text-align:left" href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/article2281394" target="_blank">Business</a>