Boston Red Sox

October 27th 2004. Everyone in my family knows exactly where they were that night. It was a historic night in history and we are all proud to say we had the honor to witness it. I was at home with my mom, dad, and my sister who had decided to go to bed. It was the day after my birthday. I had just turned nine years old. It was a clear night, a night that promised a blood moon. What a perfect night for The Boston Red Sox to play the World Series. If they were going to break the 86 year curse and have their victory, tonight would be the night.

I was still young, but I knew since I was born that I would be a Red Sox fan. My mom says that she remembers her Grandfather would listen to every game, but he never saw them win the World Series. I was brought up to know that if I wasn't a Red Sox fan, I would probably be disowned (not really, but it would definitely disturb the piece) My cousin claimed he was a Yankees fan once, I don't know if he still is or not but I think he learned to keep it to himself if he wanted to keep the peace.

So, there I was, on a clear October night watching the Red Sox game with my mom and my dad, and thousands of other excited fans wondering if tonight would be the night. I didn't really understand it at the time, but I knew it was important. And I was excited. I remember that my mom and I would run outside and look at the blood red moon, then run back inside to watch the game. I remember as it got closer and closer to the end of the game, the game became much more important. And I remember that the second it was over we were all jumping around the living room. They had won.

Then came the emails, the phone calls, my whole extended family was ecstatic! 86 years without winning the world series and I can say that I was alive to see them break the curse and have their victory! Now that I am old enough to choose a team for myself, I really can't choose any other team. Here's why. I know people who just go with the winning team, they route for whoever won the world series last year. And I know people who just pick the team who does the best overall. Or they pick the team from where they grew up or where they live. Well, I pick the team with history. A real story to tell. The underdogs. The team who never gave up even when they went 86 years without winning the World Series.

In my opinion, the best baseball fans are the ones like my great grandfather. The ones who stick by their team no matter what, even if they have to wait until they are in heaven to see them win the world series. I choose to continue to support the Boston Red Sox to honor the Great Grandfather I never met. And so that I can proudly say "I am a Red Sox fan and I got to see them break their 86 year curse" what other teams fan gets to say that? And I will continue to believe that it was because of the red moon.

I am proud to say that I am a Red Sox fan, and one day I hope to see them play in Fenway Park next to the Green Monster. Maybe someday I can say I saw them win another World Series while I was sitting right in the stadium watching. But for now I’ll settle for celebrating in my living room, and with my own grandpa, as I will certainly be doing after their amazing win tonight!!! Go Boston Red Sox!!! Congratulations on winning the 2018 World Series!!!

Costume Creating

It was Wednesday. Half off day at Salvation Army. And I was on a mission, as I usually am when I’m in Salvation Army. But this time it wasn’t for myself, no, my costume was already finished. This time I was shopping for my dad. And shopping for my dad when he’s not with me isn’t easy…

We were all dressing as Disney Characters for a Halloween thing at the zoo we were going to with a whole group of us. So, he gave me a shortlist of possible characters he could be and off I went, on a mission. At first my mission was unsuccessful. But the second Salvation Army was a success. A gold colored… trench coat…thing…? I really don’t know what it was but it was $3, would fit, and would be perfect for one of the ideas on his list. So I brought it home.

He disappeared to try it on as soon as he saw it, coming out with a full smile on his face. We still had no idea what this thing was…a robe…? A dress…? But it fit, and it would work for the character it was intended for. Next thing I knew he was rushing around the house finding/making the rest of the costume pieces, boyish excitement evident in his eyes. The engineer at work. He had always put a lot of thought into his costumes, usually not telling us what they will be until he shows up in them, faking disinterest until the big reveal. Like when he was saying he wouldn’t dress up for my pirate feast, only to finally come downstairs dressed as Jack Sparrow. And he’s told us about costumes he had made as a kid. His favorite being a dragon costume so big he had to walk to the Halloween party because he wouldn’t fit in the car. But I had never actually watched him in the process of making his costumes. It was intriguing, fascinating, and it made my passion for costume creating begin to make a lot more sense. It was hereditary.

I’ve always loved creating costumes. If you remember my series around this time last year about costumes, you’ll know there were several characters I defined different chapters of my life by. Those weren’t just personalities; I actually dressed up like all of those characters. Some of them I continued to work on and perfect for years. My pirate wardrobe is now so extensive that I can simply pull out pieces on any given day, like I was just getting dressed on a random Tuesday, and pull together a pretty epic pirate outfit. My Mad Hatter costume recently got an upgrade, I just bought a new pair of fairy wings the other day, and I’m always on the lookout for more costume pieces. It’s thrilling to go hunting for the perfect piece to make the costume complete. Even more thrilling to watch it all come together and know I made that. I didn’t buy it premade at a store, I made it myself! And usually a lot cheaper than those store bought costumes. This year my costume involved some complicated sewing. But I don’t mind. I’m going to look fabulous. I’m going to freeze… but it goes with the costume so I guess I’ll just have to live with it.

Until now I always thought I was a bit crazy for putting so much work and thought into my costumes. My mom has never been big on dressing up, until she gets excited about a specific costume idea that is. And my sister loves to dress up, but doesn’t take it to quite the extreme I do. I thought I was alone in my passion. Now I know I’m not. Now I know my dad gets just as excited as I do. It was fun working on this costume with him. I hope that maybe we’ll get to help each other with our costumes in the future.

Have fun making your costumes everyone! It’s a day to be someone you’re not… or maybe… someone you really are but don’t usually show… Hmm… there’s a new way to look at it… Have a safe and happy Halloween Everyone!!!