"Thank you, God, for all of my blessings. God bless Daddy. And God Bless the Chicago Cubs."
108 years of nighttime prayers from 4-year-old boys were finally answered. After millions of lifetimes have begun and ended, in what seemed like an eternity, the "It's Gonna Happen" just did.
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Born a Cubs fan in 1977, I have bled Cubbie blue through the exciting seasons, the dull seasons and the flat-out gut-wrenching disappointing seasons. I've cursed goats and have even cried at some of the pivotal moments that have defined our past. Nevertheless, my very best and most precious memories of the last 39 years revolve around an ever-changing ball club and its historical baseball field.
Back in 1983, I received my Die-Hard Fan Club Card. A gift from Grandma. I can't find the $5 bill I lost last week, but I can tell you where this card is at all times. My Grandma and Grandpa were instrumental in influencing my love for the "loveable losers" and would often take me and my older sister, Debbie, to games. Grandpa, with his outgoing Irish wit and personality, made friends with the crowd around us quite quickly and never said "No" to my request of a souvenir. Grandma, when she wasn't attending a game, would listen to WGN radio or tv in her kitchen and cry tears of joy when Harry or Jack would jubiliantly call a play or announce a "Cubs Win"... My sister, Debbie, after diagnosed with cancer, received memorabilia from Ryne Sandberg, Steve Trout, and Rick Sutcliffe -- along with a couple of phone calls from these guys to personally wish her well. Class Acts, those Cubbies, new and of old.
Once Debbie had passed, followed by both Grandma and Grandpa a few years later, it was mostly Dad who took me to games. I loved every minute of seeing games with my Dad and couldn't wait to have my own children to share memories with. I wrote last year about Dragonflies and the experience of taking my son to his first Cubs game at Wrigley and running the bases - a dream I will never, ever get to experience myself. I would say watching him make "Wrigl-el-ly Field" his favorite place was a defining moment of my life. His love of the Cubs is so genuine, so pure and so true.
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August, 2016
"Mom, Mom! Ernie Banks watches the Cubs from up in Heaven"
Me: Blank Stare. Where does he come up with this stuff? "Yep, he most certainly does, Jimmy."
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October, 2016
"Mom, I want to be a 'Ghost Cubbie' for Halloween"
Me: "A 'Ghost Cubbie' what is that?"
"You know, Mom. The Cubbies who watch from the outfield and look like a ghost" (BY THE WAY, I know this is difficult to believe, but it is 100% the truth. This kid is from another time and place...has been an "old soul" since the day he was put on this earth)
Me: "Um, okay."
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November 2, 2016
With our "assigned seats," lucky pajamas, an Irish shamrock, and a Die Hard Cubs Fan Club card in hand, we sat in awe as the most historical and breathtaking game ever played in the history of baseball giveth and taketh away. When the rain set in, I couldn't help but think it was the tears of all of those fans who lived entire lives for this moment only to watch it from up above with our beloved Harry, Ron, and Ernie.
Once the rain let up, the boys in blue approached the field with a renewed resiliency, drive, and maybe a couple of "Angels in the Outfield..." You just gotta believe in that.
Cubs win!
I'm pretty sure heaven hosted a bigger, louder party than that of the revelers celebrating at Clark and Addison...complete with all the Budweisers and David Berg Hotdogs good 'ol Harry could handle.
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I think I've cried five times today...crying for the magic and the miracle I never thought I would see.
This isn't just about the Cubs. It's about all of us.
It's about the countless Facebook posts about "Aunt Ida" and all of those who missed this, about Ronnie up there, clicking his heels. About the cancer survivors Rizzo and Lester who persevered. About Harry and his "green apples". About Jack's "Hey Hey" and Ernie's "Let's play two." About the days when men dressed in suits and hats to take in a game. About "Hope Springs Eternal". About finally forgiving Steve Bartman (we all would've reached for that ball). About taking chances. About taking things one day (or game) at a time. About 'when the going gets tough, the tough get going'. About Life and its inevitable series of peaks and valleys. And finally, about never, ever giving up. With hard work and faith, miracles can and DO happen.
Even if it takes 108 years.
