Sunday, November 04, 2018

Dear Daddy - The World Series (Week 2)

Most people would agree you are an unlikely Red Sox fan, Daddy. Born and bred in the Mountain West, never having been to Boston, much less Fenway Park, before entering your third decade, your joining Red Sox nation wasn't exactly predictable. But, college is transformative and your freshman dorm mate can have a lasting impact - as yours did by converting you into a Sox fan nearly 80 years into one of the longest championship droughts in sports history.

You knew what you were getting into when you decided to hitch your wagon to the fan base of this storied franchise. You knew that whole generations of fans had been born and died without experiencing the joy of a winning season. And you had to know about the Curse of the Bambino and Bill Buckner and the "Boston Massacre" and Bucky Dent and all the rest. But, something about the team and their history spoke to you and you became a die hard fan overnight.

This year, the Boston Red Sox had a record-breaking season and you kept us all abreast of their impressive achievements: first team to 100 wins; first club to clinch a postseason berth; first Red Sox roster with more than 105 wins in a season since 1912, and all of this before the playoffs. You even took us to a game this summer when they played a series against the Orioles at Camden Yards. It was a great game. The Red Sox were trailing after 5 innings but they stormed back and scored 14! runs over the next three innings. There were 10 home runs, and fireworks, we saw a rookie literally batting a thousand, and the Orioles, who had a record breaking season of their own, were mathematically eliminated from playoff contention after that game earlier than any other team in the history of MLB. We sat in the stands eating hot dogs and peanuts and singing "Take Me Out to the Ball Game." We had our picture taken with the Orioles mascot and were even featured on the JumboTron.  Best of all, we watched the Sox crush the competition and you eat up every minute of their 19-12 victory - it was magical.

Mommy hates baseball - we all know this. She would rather stare at the wall than watch baseball. She drives Isaac to practice twice a week and now she goes to his games, because he loves it and because you aren't here. She took us to Isaac's baseball tournament over Fall break where we did nothing but think/watch/play baseball for three whole days. She sat through hours of televised baseball this year and memorized their starting line-up by name and position because the Red Sox were playing, first the Yankees, then the Astros, and finally the Dodgers. She did all of this because the Red Sox are your team.

This week, the Red Sox won the World Series. You weren't here to watch it with us, we missed you. Mommy tried to replace you and make your absence less noticeable. She watched the games while we were at school so she could tell us the highlights and see us get excited as the Sox moved one step closer to their victory.  She listened to us recount our favorite moments from each game and returned our celebratory high fives. She gave us her phone at church so we could check the score in real time for game 4.  She promised us if there was a game 7 we could stay home from school and watch it live - and then she prayed the Series wouldn't go to 7 games. And when they won, she didn't tell us and let us stay up late to watch the replay so we could experience the win for ourselves.

It wasn't the same - watching the Red Sox win - without you. Mommy was disappointed, for us and for you. She knows how much you love this team and especially how much you love sharing what you love with us. She knows as incredible as this victory was, because we weren't together, it was a little bittersweet. But, the Red Sox have now won the World Series 4 times in the last 15 years and they'll probably win again in the not too distant future. At least, that's what Mommy says. She's a pragmatist and based on their track record, she definitely would not have become a Red Sox fan in 1995 like you did, but in 2018 she knows they are a force to be reckoned with and their prospects for future victories are excellent. Mommy was aware of your blind, inexplicable, and unrewarded devotion to this team when she decided to hitch her wagon to your star. She may not be a baseball fan, but she's your fan, so when the Red Sox win we celebrate...even when you're far away.

2 comments:

Adrianne said...

I love that reading this almost makes me feel like we're having a conversation, because I hear your voice in my head and I find a hint of a smile on my lips and I know, all over again, why you are one of my most cherished friends.

Will B said...

I’m not sure if I should apologize or celebrate your conversion ��. Okay, celebration it is!

 

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