There's No Crying In Baseball

So this is it.
Game 5. The Phils are up 3-1.

It may sound stupid to other people and frankly I don't care. I'm sitting at work in tears. Not the balling type but glossy eyed choked up tears. There are a thousand thoughts running through my head. I think back to my first Phillies game with my father, uncle and cousin. I remember wondering why my mild mannered father was booing Mike Schmidt. I remember spending lazy Sunday afternoons with my grandmother in the left field bleachers of the Vet. She used to make me promise that when I became a pro ball player I would buy her a Jaguar. I remember thinking it was a real possibility. I remember going to a game with my Aunt Carol and getting 100 years of Phillies history over the course nine innings. I remember attending the '93 World Series with my dad and being amazed at the look on his face as we walked up to the park. He had a look a I had never seen before or since. It was sheer excitement. I remember the strike of '94 and swearing off the sport because my hero's had now become something evil. I remember falling in love with the team again in '99 during a completely inconsequential Reds series. I remember staying up all night with Noah just to watch them blow that rat hole up. I remember going to the first night game at Citizen's Bank Park with my best friend and sitting through 2 hours of rain delays only to have him miss his train home. I remember hugging my wife after Thome belted #400 and how could I forget making her wait out that entire rain delay because Phillies fans stay until the game is official.
I take it back now...... that choked up tearing has officially gone to full blown tears. My coworkers must think I'm crazy.
I remember Kristen giving me season tickets as the greatest birthday gift any human has ever given another. I remember every single Opening Day that carries the anticipation of my birthday, Christmas and Halloween wrapped into one. I remember pushing back our honeymoon for one day because the Red Sox were in town and then getting share that game with some of the greatest people I've ever known. I remember Father's Days with my dad and guys nights with my Father-In-Law. I remember the greatest game I've ever attended. The last game of the 2007 season. I remember watching a four game sweep of the Brewers with my brand new baby boy.

I think of all of this and I can't help but be emotional. I love baseball. I love it as more than a sport.
I'll cry when they win tonight. Not only because this is the greatest season I've ever experienced but also because this miracle of a season will finally come to close.