The Friendly Confines

I am so excited about today! We used public transportation (which sounds lame and commonplace, but I did not grow up using it so anytime I get to do it is a thrill) and we visited a historic site. In this case we saw the Cubs of Chicago take on the Astros of Houston at historic Wrigley Field. I last came to Chicago nineteen years ago for a conference my dad had and while here we drove by Wrigley, but we were not able to see a game here. Although Mark has already been to Wrigley several times he is indulging my desire to check this landmark of baseball off of my list.

The morning was spent sleeping in, packing up the hotel room, and finding the metro station with the parking structure. We boarded the red line at the northernmost stop and were the only ones in our car unsure we were on the right train until the purple line pulled up -- apparently we were waiting for them -- and all the Cubs fans walked across the platform and flooded our car. I was now feeling a little more secure about our decision. Side note: Mark knows his way around public transportation very well and ultimately I trust his ability to navigate said system however, until we get going and I get my bearings I'm still a little nervous. So now we're on the metro en route to Wrigley Field. At this point I still like Cubs fans.

We arrive at Wrigley and it's a MOB scene. There are people everywhere -- vendors trying to sell you peanuts/water/t-shirts, scalpers trying to buy/sell tickets, fans walking to the game, and drunks just there for the scene. Near the metro station there is an entrance for the stadium, but I really want a picture of the main entrance and the sign. It was way to crowded to try and get a picture of Mark and I at the sign, but I line up to take a picture anyway and just as I go to click I am completely bowled over by a woman who has already had one to many. Before I can get my feet back her friend who was holding her hand walking along with her runs into me as well. Truly it was as if I didn't exist in that space at that time. I know I'm short, but damn people! My opinion of Chicago natives is not a good one at this point. A sour start to my Wrigley experience. Fortunately, it would improve.

Our entrance into the park was all I expected it to be from the hours of documentary footage I have seen on MLB Network. It was cozy to put it nicely, a stark contrast to the open breezeways of Target Field. Not desiring to run into our "friends" again, we make our way to our seats. They were GREAT! First base side, even with the pitcher, nine rows up from the walkway, on the good side of the isle (the side not blocked by vendors EVERY half inning). Sitting there I could see the black and white photographs of the early days of the stadium when men came in suits and women in dresses and hats (if they came). I could not imagine being dressed like that today -- it was HOT! Someone fainted in the section next to us. The fans that ended up around us didn't do much to improve my opinion of Chicago natives, but the crowd in general did. Despite the fact, or maybe due to it, that there was no jumbotron to show replays the fans were into EVERY play. They clapped without being prompted, made noise to support their team without the "MAKE SOME NOISE" meter. It was just classic baseball, with a classic crowd, in a classic park. Really just wonderful.

Random aside: the lakegulls (I refuse to call them seagulls even though that's what they are when Chicago is nowhere near the ocean) have the day games timed. They showed up for chow time right around the bottom of the 8th. Our game ended up going extra innings so they were flying around and landing on the field for a while. Apparently though they do not like it when the crowd gets excited, which we did when Pedro Feliz hit a home run. The birds scattered and didn't come back, at least not while we were still there.

Another random aside: early into our Wrigley experience Mark made the comment that he wondered if "Ronnie Woo-Woo" would be in attendance. I had NO idea what or who he was talking about, I would soon find out. Ronnie Woo-Woo is a gentleman that comes to every Cubs game in full Cubs uniform. His jersey has the nickname "Woo-Woo" emblazoned on the back and it is well deserved. Ronnie spends the entire game yelling "woo-woo." I really mean ENTIRE, he doesn't take much of a break, not even when signing autographs. This man has had a difficult life to say the least. Look him up, it's really the case of baseball saving a man's life.

One last random aside: Marv Levy was our guest leader for the seventh-inning stretch. He sped up a little, but the organist did a good job of catching up with him. Really interesting that they would have someone I would have heard of on a weekday day game in the middle of the season. Neither of us was expecting it and it turned out to be a nice surprise.

Indianapolis was our final destination today. An extension of the trip was considered. There was the possibility of adding Detroit and Pittsburgh, but we both agreed that we're tired of spending every night in a different place and are extremely anxious to start putting together our new apartment (I don't even know what it looks like). So tomorrow it's off to Chapel Hill and our new life in North Carolina...