I've waited 19 years.
Some have waited more, even 50, even 75.
On November 2nd, the Chicago Cubs won the World Series. Something that I have dreamt of ever since I could comprehend what baseball is. I played baseball when I was young. I lived it, loved it, watched it. If it had anything to do with baseball, I was there. Upfront and center. Baseball was my first love. I had dreams of playing professionally and going all the way to the Chicago Cubs. So when the Cubs won the World Series, you can imagine how enthralled I was. It was like I had won the whole thing by myself.
So you could only imagine how I was when the final out was made. I was surrounded by all of my friends. They didn't really care about baseball, but they knew that I did. So when I was excited, they were excited. In a way, it made me feel that I was somewhat there. They made me feel the same way that a crowd does. Excited, anxious, thrilled. I sat on the edge of my seat the entire time. This was the moment I had been waiting for all of my existence. (Sorry future family, you're on hold right now as is my degree. I want you too, but the Cubs are more important right now.) We were ahead most of the game, but when the Indians tied it, I was on pins and needles. I don't even think I was sitting on a chair, I was sitting on the air in front of my chair.
Then, the game went to extra innings. I wasn't even sitting anymore. I was standing up, on my tiptoes at that. Then, we scored. I repeatedly jumped up and down for a good 5-10 minutes. We were ahead. This is real, I thought. We were two runs ahead. Now, the bottom of the 10th inning. My anxiety was at about 100 on a 1-10 scale. I was ready for the win, but also for the disappointment of a loss. So when the Indians did not score a single run at all, when the final out was scored, I jumped up. I had my Cubs blanket wrapped around me. I proceeded to run down the hallway, the blanket being used as a cape. I got weird looks from people I didn't even know. And I didn't care.
I was just so happy that we won. We actually won. It's been 108 years. I waited a small portion of that, but it felt like a lifetime. But it was worth it.
