Jessica Belmosto

The Boston Red Sox won the World Series on Sunday night. In typical fashion, fans flooded the streets and their college campuses. They joined thousands of strangers in singing Sweet Caroline at the top of their lungs. Monday morning responsibilities were the last thing on their mind. After all, we’ve always been told not to take championships for granted.

Say what you want about Boston and their fanbase being spoiled. It’s nothing they haven’t heard before. In fact, that’s probably one of the nicer things people say. Our city rallies around wins. Nothing brings us together like a playoff run or playing in the big game.

I’ve talked about my experience as a Red Sox fan. The majority of my childhood was spent in a small two bedroom apartment with a single father. He’d cook dinner and I’d watch the Red Sox game. Don and Jerry were the best. My dad would be warming up pasta sauce and telling me something about the team back when he was a kid. He’d ask me questions and see what I had to say. I watched objectively and asked questions. My dad made sure I understood what the shift was and why they were playing that way. He was a big Nick Markakis guy. If there was a chance to talk about Nick, my dad made sure to bring it up. Summer evenings in the bleachers of a foreign stadium were something I took for granted. I thought summer trips would last forever. Time goes on, life changes and makes the fun “impossible”. Wrigley was always on our list but we never had the chance. There’s always Summer 2019.

This season was special for so many reason. The 108 wins, never losing more than three in a row, our outstanding outfield, and pitching staff. We had so much to be thankful for. I got to make more friends this season. Thanks to the power of social media and podcasts, I’ve made life long friends. Shannon and Dan. I could write an entire blog about how much those two mean to me. It’s rare finding a friendship that works SO well, let alone two. Shannon and Dan claim they got lucky when they found each other but I’d like to say I’m lucky I found them too. They’re some of the most genuine human beings I have ever met. I can yell about baseball and make podcast jokes while still being able to ask for advice. These guys just get me. I’ve never felt judged or on the outside with them. There’s no drama between us. There’s just smiles, laughs, and a lot of memories being made.

Jess and I started podcasting back in April. We made it through an entire baseball season without calling it quits. I know they say don’t do business with friends but I’d say it’s working out pretty well. Not to mention she’s become a big Mookie Betts guy! Podcasting has become an outlet for me, and I believe for her as well. We’ve made some amazing friends through our show too. People actually listen to us yell about the Bruins and David Price’s bad starts. It’s almost shocking that people outside our families listen. That’s besides the point. I love the Red Sox. I love people who love the Red Sox. I also love anyone who reads my blogs and listens to the podcast.

I owe a lot to the Section 10 Podcast. Those guys brought me Shannon and Dan. They’ve brought some amazing people into my life. Fenway Friday’s are something that needs to live on forever. We laughed, we cried, we sang our hearts out together. My anxiety revved up pretty bad over the summer. I was isolating myself and barely functioning as an adult. You want to know what helped me get through those days? Yeah, you guessed it, Section 10. I listened to Steve and Jared go back and forth about the team that brought me so much joy. I found myself laughing out loud for what felt like forever. I wouldn’t have the drive to do what I do without them.

I watched Rick Porcello jump into a pool of ice and bud light. I saw David Price cry in a press conference. I watched Alex Cora raise that trophy not only for the people of Boston, but for the people in Puerto Rico. The Boston Red Sox won the World Series and I will never take that for granted.