Whoaaa, it's an article not about the Election Results? What?? You're bringing up the World Series again? That news is so last week. We're on the election now, duh.

Why yes, many, if not everybody, is talking about the Election Results, and no one is really talking about the World Series anymore, BUT I'm going to interrupt the talk of the Election (primarily all hateful comments anyways) and discuss what my city's baseball team being in the World Series meant to me (why not show some love in the mix of all this hate, amirite?)

First off, I would like to say that I am so so so grateful and blessed to have lived during a time when the Cleveland Cavs won the Championship AND the Cleveland Indians went to the World Series (and possibly win it next year? Stay tuned).

This experience has not only shown me how much love is in my city and how much we come together to support one another, but it has also created a bonding experience with my family that no other thing really could. If you know my dad, he's probably the biggest baseball fan you know. If you know my dad's side of the family (my parents are not together, so I say dad's side and mom's side), you know that baseball runs in our blood. There is not a person on that side of the family who is not crazy about baseball. So when we found out about the Indians going to the World Series? Man, it was probably the greatest news we've ever witnessed in our lives. And the timing was perfect because my dad's birthday is this month (November 13th). What better present could a die-hard baseball fan ever receive? What beats their favorite baseball team going to the World Series (probably actually winning it, but that's okay... There's always next year)?

The World Series gave me a way to bond with my dad. By that, I don't mean that we have never bonded ever before, but he and I typically do not bond over sports being that I am one for the arts and he is one for the sports. My family is very athletic, and all of my siblings are actively involved in sports. I, on the other hand, am probably the least involved in sports out of everyone in my family. I am still very active. I dance, workout on my own, and play volleyball, but my talents typically go towards writing, dancing, singing, and acting. Those are my passions, my interest. My family is very supportive of what I do, but I still do feel outcasted at times because I don't have the same love of sports like they do, so being able to talk to my dad about the World Series and watch the games with him made me happy. Witnessing his happiness over the Indians going to the World Series, being able to go to World Series game 6 with my family, and being able to see how excited he (and everyone else) got over the Indians winning made me happy because I got to see him enjoy something he loves. And to be honest, I don't think I've ever really witnessed this before. Not like this at least. He's usually watching his kids do what they love, he's always putting our needs and interest before his own, and he sacrifices his wants for ours. It may be weird coming from the child, but it was nice to see his "kid just got the best toy ever" happiness shown through the World Series because I can't recall a time my dad was ever that happy before.

That is what the World Series meant to me. It was a huge bonding moment with my family, especially my dad.

To dad,
thanks for texting with me about the game when I was at mom's,
thanks for understanding why I was staying up so late on school nights to watch the game,
thanks for the moments at Tony K's watching the games as a family,
thanks for the World Series Game 6 tickets,
and most importantly, thanks for everything else you do for me that's way too much to name. I love you, and Happy Birthday.

-Katelyn