and just like that...

back on October 23, in the post about the Sox winning the ALCS, i confessed that i had already written the eulogy for the 2007 Boston Red Sox when they were done two games to one to the Cleveland Indians in the ALCS. it's not that i was convinced they were going to lose, but the possibility was certainly there. it seems silly to say that now, when they have since come back to win the ALCS, sweep the World Series, celebrate with dancing & champagne showers, and held their Rolling Rally through the streets of Boston. but in baseball, only one team goes home the champion, and the possibility to *not* be that team has far greater odds.

as i drove home from work on October 16, i found myself composing in my head how it would feel to be one of the teams who goes home. and before i lost what i felt i would want to say, i simply sat down & captured it. just in case. because there's nothing worse, when writing, than to have exactly what you might want to say, and then have it vanish by the time the appropriate moment arrives.

i thought i would share it...

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

...we find ourselves saying "maybe next year."

when you set out in April, the months roll out endlessly before your eyes, but 162 games happen in the blink of an eye.

we spent the season on top of the standings.
on top of the division.
on top of the world.

just a moment ago, we were the team, giddy with celebration.
with a division pennant raised high over our heads.
showering in a spray of bubbly.
riverdancing with a box on our head.

we were not "that team."
we were not the team that says "maybe next year" and then packs up & heads for home.

except that we are that team.

just like that, it's over.
we join the other 27 teams not playing for the championship.

there is no crying in baseball.
six more months til April.

ps. We should've got the live chicken.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

yeah.
just like that.

and just like that, the Sox won three straight, earned a ticket to the Fall Classic, rolled right through to become the 2007 World Champions, and this post never happened.

what a dream of a season.
what a sweet incredible ride.
what an awesome feeling.
but seriously, is it April yet?