Houston is still reeling from Hurricane Harvey, the worst flood in our history, that happened just over two months ago. People are traumatized from losing homes, losing possessions, finding shelter, dealing with FEMA, worrying about the future. The Astros brought a ray of sunshine into our rain-soaked lives.
They brought us together, gave us something everyone could talk about. Orange and blue t-shirts and Astros caps were the fashion of the week.
When they beat the Red Sox, then the Yankees, then finished off the Dodgers in the seventh game of the World Series, it seemed like Destiny. The 'Stros were comfortably ahead in that game, 5-0, but the tension in our Event Center where several dozen people sat glued to the television was overwhelming. We muttered, "9 more outs," then "6 more outs," then "3 more outs" as the final three innings started. The lady in the front row wiggled her fingers in a voodoo sign each time the Dodgers came to bat. When Jose Altuve snagged the final grounder and tossed it to Yuri Gurriel, the room erupted in cheers.
We watched the players, who seemed to relish every moment of every game, storm the field, World Champions at last. Houston waited 56 years for that moment and finally it was here.
On the field, they hoisted the championship trophy, Carlos Correa proposed to his girl friend, and George Springer, who set a record for home runs during a World Series, was named MVP.
On Friday the Houston Independent School District canceled
classes so kids could attend the victory parade. Nearly a million people crowded downtown Houston to cheer our heroes.
We're back to everyday life now, but we won't forget those moments of triumph and joy, not ever.
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