After the Cubs won the World Series my mom, cousin, and I ran out of our house on the way to the most important place we could be in that moment- Dick's Sporting Goods.
We all climbed into my car and within seconds "Go Cubs Go" was blasting out of my speakers with the windows rolled down and wind whipping throughout the car. It was late at night, and there wasn't many people on the road.
However, we did come across a few people on the same mission as we were, many with "W" flags sticking out of their rooftops. We ended up being caught at a red light, and the people next to us rolled down their window to join in on our singing. It was awesome because it felt like everyone in our town at the moment, and many many more, were all joined together through a common interest.
The empty roads were in no way indicative of what Dick's would be like when we got there. There was a line wrapping around the side of the building, and I quickly pulled up across the street and let out my mom and cousin to go grab a place in line.
We spent about an hour at Dick's in line, dodging around people, and making sure we had of the right sizes before we were able to leave. But we forgot about one major aspect that the girl checking us out brought to our attention, the parade. We all stared at each other in excitement, and my mom, who's birthday was on the same day as the parade, goes "There is no way I am not taking off of work now."
On Friday we woke up at 7 AM and were full of energy and excitement. "I can't believe we are lucky enough to have this happen in our lifetime" was said countless times, not only by my family but strangers and people on the news as well. Within a half hour, we were covered in blue and red and ready to head out and join the millions of people who looked the exact same way.
Throughout the parade on Friday we were able to see the players go by on their buses, see the river dyed blue, write on Wrigley Field with chalk, eat at a great Mexican restaurant in Wrigleyville, and be surrounded with literally millions of ecstatic Cubs fans.
Michigan Avenue along with a lot of other streets had been blocked off so people could walk freely, and giant signs about Joe Madden, Harry Caray, and the superstitious goat were plastered on the buildings, "Someday is Today."
People everywhere were joined together by their love for not only the Cubs, but Chicago as well. I know I can speak for all of us either from or around Chicago when I say there really is something special about this city and the people who live in it.
I think the best way to describe the whole day would be best summed up with a quote from my mom, while she was halfway done eating her enchiladas and a giant smile on her face, "surreal happiness."
