Whenever I talk about my past, all of the things that I experienced, from growing up as a kid, to going to high school… from starting to party, to still partying… I refer to it as “another lifetime” because it seems so long ago. As you get older, I guess more and more things fall into that category. Luckily enough for me, everything has been in THIS lifetime; I’ve been very blessed at each part of the journey. Sure, there’s been some bad shit, but that’s with everybody. Overall, when I look back, I think about the song that goes… “life’s been good to me thus far”.
Today, on November 3rd, 2020, I’m feeling a bit agitated… probably because of what’s happening later today and/or over the next couple weeks with our country. I think… what does it matter who it is? Are your actions going to be dictated by another individual? Regardless of what happens, we still have to do what we have to do, period. Maybe I’m just trying to prepare myself for the worst… Anyways, I feel the need to go to my “happy place”, and what better day to do so than today… November 3rd.
I saw all the stuff yesterday about the anniversary of the Cubs winning it all 4 years ago. I didn’t sit and watch the replay of the game or anything, but I did celebrate in my own way. Cubs shorts, Cubs World Series champs t-shirt, and Cubs World Series glass for my milk with dinner last night. But really, TODAY is the true anniversary of that great event. If you recall, and maybe like me, there are moments of that night where you blacked out, it wasn’t until AFTER midnight, specifically 12:09 CST on November 3rd when Bryant threw to Rizzo for the final out. Thus, today is the day!!! That’s why TODAY is the perfect day to reflect back on what happened another lifetime ago, 4 years ago today.
I was writing this blog already by then; I had started back in 2014, after the Cubs lost their 100th anniversary game in typical Cubs fashion. It was then, and probably before then, and certainly still today, when I realized I needed some therapy. THIS, right here, what you’re reading, is MY therapy. I’d love to post links to all my blogs during the Cubs World Series run, but I’ll only post one:
This was the one I posted 4 years ago today, when the Cubs finally did it. Of course there was much more that came before, and much more that came after this glorious day, and I have it all documented, which would make for a nice book one day… Anyways, back in the day, although the Cubs had brought us much joy, at the end of the day, the feeling that always prevailed was one of heartbreak. All of that heartbreak was washed away with that divine rain delay which preceded the final inning of the 2016 World Series. When Rizzo caught that final out, all previous failings were forgotten; all that mattered was THIS night. This World Series title that completed many a bucket lists. We finally saw one. I will never forget it…
Since that day, we expected much more; we did enjoy a playoff run like none other in our lifetimes. For that, I am thankful. Yet, we have never completed the journey. Sitting here 4 years later, we still only have the one… and that’s OK. Sure, I want more; we always want more. We coulda, shoulda won more. We can choose to be upset about that, and yes, I am upset about it, but those feelings don’t prevail over the joy that I still have from 2016. Just like pre-2016, when the feelings of heartbreak were greater than anything, today, the feeling of joy, because of what happened on THIS day in 2016, is greater than anything.
When I woke up this morning, I put on the piece of clothing that gives me the most comfort. It was the piece of clothing that I bought at about 2am on this day 4 years ago… when I hit the streets, driving around with windows opened, honking at everybody I passed, as I headed down to Dick’s at North and Clybourn and stocked up on championship gear, including this official Cubs World Series champions hoodie that I have on today. Being out there with everyone, everyone so happy, is always a great result of when our city delivers another championship. I experienced it with the Bears, Bulls, and Blackhawks; finally it was the Cubs turn. It’s that feeling of happiness that coursed through our veins on that night that I remember; it’s that feeling of euphoria that we always anxiously await to experience again. Until then, we will always have November 3rd, 2016. And nothing, or nobody, can take that away.
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