Tonight we say goodbye to 2013, and as always, I wonder how another year managed to slip by so fast. Taking a step back, this was the tenth season Red and I covered on this humble little blog. Ten years? Where did they go?
When we started this in 2004, it was an outlet, a place to scream and shake our fists and commiserate when the Sox disappointed us again. Then, everything changed. 2004 was probably the most magical run we will ever see. And like Motown in the sixties, the hits just kept coming. 2007 was an exclamation point on what the 2004 team did. And this past season? A close second to 2004 in my opinion. Lightning does strike twice in the same place.
There were two events this year that need to be remembered. The Boston Marathon bombings shook the city to its foundation. As we have always done, Boston grew stronger from it. I was just a half mile away from the finish line when it happened. In some ways I’m glad I run slow, but there’s a part of me that wish I could have been there to help in some small way.
The second event hit closer to our little group of friends here. Jan Gentile’s passing in September was a reminder of just how fragile life can be. Jan was a loyal reader and frequent commenter. She will be missed. We come here to either complain or celebrate about our team, depending on the day. But each one of us has a life outside of the persona we portray here, and that life is precious. We all need to remember that.
While I’m not big on resolutions, I want to make this a better place in 2014. I slacked off a lot this past season, leaving Red to carry the load, which he did with his usual flair. In doing so, I missed a lot of the magic of the beards. Next year, I will be here, fully engaged. I have been working on a few writing projects that I hope will be published in 2014. More to come on that.
For now, it’s time to bid farewell to 2013 and look forward to 2014.
Have a safe and happy New Year.
