Since I was a little girl, I have always loved the Chicago Cubs. I used to run around the house yelling, "Sammy Sosa, Sammy Sosa!" (Kind of embarrassing, I know). I had an old Kerry Wood t-shirt that I loved to wear to bed. I remember walking into my Great-Grandma Hughes's house and almost always seeing the Cubs game on. I grew up familiar with the names Ernie Banks, Harry Caray, Alfonso Soriano, but being a little kid, I could never sit and watch a full baseball game. I was a Cubs fan, but baseball wasn't as important to me then as it is now. If you would have asked me then if I thought I would ever see the Cubs win the World Series, I wouldn't have even known what the World Series was. At some point over the years, though, I got more and more interested in baseball and being a Cubs fan became much more important. It was bound to happen sooner or later considering I spent so many nights falling asleep to the sound of Pat and Ron announcing the Cubs games. So here I am, 18 years old, the day after I got to watch my most favorite team in baseball win their first World Series game in 108 years. This is a thank you letter to you, the Chicago Cubs.

So thank you, to a team that stole my heart before I even understood baseball. The phrase, "there's always next year," has been something I have applied to many aspects of my life, even if it is just a joke.

Thank you for giving me something to believe in, and showing me that as long as you keep your faith and stand true to your beliefs, the end result will be more rewarding than ever. I've been made fun of all throughout my life because I'm a fan of the always-losing baseball team, but no matter what, I never wanted to change teams. I always was and still am proud to be a Cubs fan.

Thank you for helping me build a bond with my dad. I wouldn't trade the times I've spent with him on our back porch listening to the game for anything. Being away at college during this postseason and not being able to watch the games with him hasn't been easy, but it wasn't so bad since we were texting each other play by plays during every game. I will never forget the phone call we had after we both got to watch that miracle of a win.

Thank you for being a common interest among some of my sorority sisters. The fact that I got to watch the best baseball game in my entire life with my sisters who love the Cubs just as much as I do was such a blessing. I wouldn't have wanted anyone else to see me ugly-cry than those amazing women. They made the experience so much better.

Thank you for having such beautiful players (I had to say it). The Cubs won twice last night; once because of their skills, hard work and dedication, and a second time because the men on the 2016 Cubs team are jaw-droppingly handsome.

Thank you for making so many dreams come true. I have waited my whole life to see the Cubs win a World Series game, but I know that there are far more people out there who have waited even longer.

Thank you, from the little girl in this picture:

And again, from the girl here, eight years later:

Thank you, Chicago Cubs, for truly making me the happiest girl in the world. I will forever be proud to say that I am a Chicago Cubs fan.