Truly a night for the record books!!!

PHILS WIN! PHILS WIN!! The Philadelphia Phillies won their first World Series since 1980 (first in my lifetime, for sure). It's also only their second championship EVER! My home city, the City of Brotherly Love, is alive tonight!

This is truly a night that I will never forget. I left Elgin, IL this afternoon after bidding many of my close friends and former co-workers/fellow Brethren farewell. As we made our final descent into Philadelphia, I was thinking just how great it would be to fly into PHL right by Citizens Bank Park. Well, I was fortunate to have the window seat on the right side of the plane (16F). I looked out my small airplane window and saw the stadium, all lit-up, with fans ready to explode! Sure enough, less than 3 hours later, we now have our chance!

The irony of it all is that I, a die-hard Phillies Phanatic and lover of all Philadelphia sports, have been silent through it all. I lost my voice earlier today after talking to everyone during my whirlwind trip to Chicagoland. It was quite an experience. I wrote notes and cheers and disappointments down on a legal pad that my mom read aloud to my dad so that he knew what I was trying to express. I'll admit, at times it was a little frustrating. My parents didn't quite always understand my short-hand. Nevertheless, this is definitely one baseball game that I will never forget.

All of my grandparents were Phillies fans. Both of my parents have always told me about how their parents would listen to Phillies games on the radio. I know they'd all be happy and celebrating here with us right now. The last time the Phillies won the World Series was 1980, the year my parents got married. Tug McGraw was on the mound. He struck out Willie Wilson to phinish the Kansas City Royals. 28 years later... same result. The most dominant closer in the league, Brad Lidge, struck out Eric Hinske and the Fightin' Phils ended the Tampa Bay Rays World Series historic run.

103. This is the number of games that the Phillies won this year. Incredible. So much excitement! So much phun. This is Phantastic! This is good-night for me but certainly not for the city that gave birth to our country--Philadelphia.

CONGRATS PHILLIES AND ALL MY FELLOW PHILLY PHANATICS!!