'you should enter the ballpark the way you enter the church'

on saturday, august 11, 2007, i attended my first red sox game. previous to this event, i would have said that on this date i attended the orioles-red sox game. after the first inning, notsomuch.

what happened that day? how did a team i had absolutely no knowledge of or affiliation with bewitch me to the point that i became a Rabid Fan? how, in one game, did i transform into a loyal member of the red sox nation? how did i turn into a girl who dresses as big papi for halloween? how did i become someone waiting with bated breath for the spring, when i can actually go to fenway and see the green monster for myself?

last week i was, of course, thrilled when the sox swept the series. how could i not be? but more than the joy in winning the championship i have been left with a sadness that the season is over. a general feeling of being bummed out and that spring can't come fast enough. after all, there are only so many times i can rent fever pitch or watch papelbon dancing on youtube, hoping there's some way they'll tide me over for next season.