Sharing the joy of a World Series

I was living in Orlando, Florida, in 2016, watching my Chicago Cubs beat the Dodgers to advance to the World Series, a day I never thought I would never live to see. This was my one chance to see them in the World Series and I wasn't going to miss it.

I had grown up watching and listening to the Cubs games with my dad for as long as I can remember.

I was lucky enough growing up here that I got to see several games at the park and on the rooftops - always a die-hard fan and always waiting for them to one day make it to October.

The night before Game 4 of the World Series, I purchased two tickets to the game and a plane ticket home. It cost more than my first year of college, but it was well worth it. My mom and brother picked me up at O'Hare airport and drove me home to Libertyville. My father and I had talked all week over the phone about the Cubs and how excited we were for this to be happening.

When I arrived home, I got out of the car and went into the back yard to see my dad, who was cutting the grass as he did every Saturday. He was so surprised to see me and asked what I was doing there. I told him that there was no way that our Cubs were playing in the World Series and that we weren't going to be watching it together.

He thought that was great and said we could sit in the den and watch them like old times. I said, "No, Dad, you don't understand, you and I are GOING to the game together at Wrigley. This only happens once in a lifetime, and we aren't going to miss it."

The Cubs lost game 4, and I can't even recall what the score was that game. However, I will never forget the look on my dad's face and the excitement when we got to the ballpark that night. It is a memory that I will cherish forever. I only hope the Cubbies can do it again this year.

Samantha Fleegle

Libertyville