I knew it the moment it actually happened. And from then on, when watching a game I get that feeling of excitement and nervousness in my stomach, that up until that point, I had only gotten while watching Blackhawks hockey.
I had begun to call myself a converted fan for a while, since my husband and I met, and I saw what real fandom looked like in him. I never really cared about Chicago baseball, and called myself a "Cubs fan" though I didn't really develop any connection to the team. A few summers ago, as a birthday present for my husband, I planned a trip to St. Louis where we would not only get to attend several games in the 4 day trip, but also tour the field, the dugout, and even the announcers box. Seeing my husband standing in the dugout, in his old retired Edmonds jersey, looking up at the scoreboard at Busch Stadium, with pristine green grass and blue sky surrounding him, was a moment I'll never forget. I became emotional, thinking back to the stories he had told me about his dad, who he had lost about 10 years prior, at the time. About the evenings he would drive around in the car with AM radio static, looking for just the right place to park to hear the game. The hours he spent with his memorabilia collection, sorting and discussing the different cards and signatures. And when he was starting to get sick, how his dad would ask my husband to print out the lineup for him so that he could go over the stats before the game. How if only he were here now, they would sit and talk about the games, and the players, and who's been hurt, and who's really holding his own this season, and how awful the Cubs are. Seeing my husband, taking it all in, while I daydreamed about the amazing man, his father, that I would never get to meet, knowing that I would adore him, since I've heard so much how alike they were, I became a fan. At that moment I understood that it was more than just a sport to him, more than just a team, it was his connection to his dad.
8 Comments
3/12/2017 01:26:10 pm
GO CARDS! As an avid Cardinals fan, your title drew me to your post. I predicted its content and couldn't have been further from the mark. I love how this piece took such an unexpected turn that was so very touching and personal. Thank you for sharing!
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3/12/2017 02:50:47 pm
4th generation Cubs fan here. And I LOVE EVERY WORD of this post. I got emotional reading it. For me, sports of any kind has been about connections. My family happens to connect through the Cubs (we now have a Cubs group chat that goes OFF during games.) My grandmother died two months before the Cubs won it all, and we all firmly believe she was up there doing whatever she could to help us out. I so appreciate your husband - and you - for the connection you have to the storied Cardinals. And enjoy Dexter Fowler... he's a good one! ;)
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Kelly Dennis
3/12/2017 05:18:54 pm
Lovely post today Melody!
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3/12/2017 05:28:00 pm
What a loving post you've written for and about your husband and his father. I'm in Denver, so Broncos through and through, but Rockies only sometimes. I love hearing about loyal fans who really "know" the players and stats, so impressive.
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Lindsey
3/12/2017 07:48:04 pm
Go cards! ❤
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3/12/2017 08:02:37 pm
Such a beautiful tribute to your husband and his late father!
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3/13/2017 10:10:51 am
This post gave me goosebumps. Which is odd since I'm not a Cards fan or a sports fan in general, nor have I ever met your husband.
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Robyn
3/13/2017 07:24:18 pm
I loved this. It made me think about the Cardinals games I went to as a kid living in SL. It didn't stick, being a Cubs fan and all... but there's something about baseball that is just different from other sports. I think you planned an awesome trip!
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Author5th grade teacher, wife, mama to my 3 magical babies, ally, advocate, doggy foster mom... just stumbling on. Archives
March 2022
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