Well the Red Sox did it again…World Series Champs!
There was no way we were going to miss the parade this time around. We were in Boston around 8:30am and parked at the Museum of Science. I figured this would give us good access without getting stuck in crazy traffic and the walk was only 4 blocks or so from downtown. Keith and Bob were to meet up with us in town and we hang for the parade.

Red Sox Nation is well represented in this photo….
Here the group is heading up to the square where the TV cameras and big screen are set-up. Bob and Keith are to be here waiting for us. This is one instance a cell phone is a wonderful thing. I remember the old days before cell phones, trying for the hook on a day like this and it was next to impossible. I know I am showing my age but i recall life without CDs and IPods too. All we had back then was records and the new cassette tape, 8 tracks were becoming passe. The fax was just starting to be used…image relying on snail mail for business? How did things get done…I digress.

We took up positions along the road on the metal fences that were put up. The crowd was starting to build and people in the high rises were putting GIANT letters in the windows saying Red Sox or Champs. People foolish enough or required to drive up the parade route with normal cars had it tough. People were silly stringing them and throwing donuts, it was nuts. Once the cops showed up thing slowed down a little bit, but the crowd was starting to get huge by this point.

Rose and I slipped away for a coffee and a smoke. Yeah we smoked then. there was this large display of a shirt, so we did the tourist thing and had our picture taken. In reality it was just a way for me to finagle a long public kiss from Rose but don’t tell her. We had to get away from the area because we ended up taking everyone else’s picture for them 2-3 fine but come on, I neared a dozen really quickly.

Rose and I headed back and took up positions with our group, it filled in really quick, 40-60 deep ant least. The cops had arrived and taken up positions. The crowd was tossing tennis balls and most anything back and forth and the one bounced and hit the Sargent…..ooops that was the end of fun time. People still kept tossing things, Keith kicked something back to somebody across the street and one of the cops thought Keith was kicking it at him. He came over really pissed and read Keith the riot act. He told Keith he wouldn’t be able to get a decent job, blah blah blah. We had the video camera out and had just put it away. What a great clip that would have been.
The Duck Boats came by with the players, staff and Wally the Green Monster. Johnathan Papplebon danced a jig with the Drop Kick Murphy’s and Manny was inviting everyone back to his place for a party. It was controlled chaos, and it was fun. It was amazing to see so many people together and the signs that people had were incredible. Everyone has seen signs like “Marry Me Jacoby”, but this was the first time I saw one that said “Fuck Me Jacoby”. The crowd would chant “Yankees Suck” “Resign Lowell” and all kinds of things. There was alot of Dominican flags and signs of support as well. At no time was i worried about the kids or the crowd getting out of hand. Everyone was there for the same reason, to celebrate the World Champion Red Sox and bask in another New York Yankees post season failure. It was great.

After the parade had passed we all went down by Fanniel Hall and people watched, drained the bladders and looked for food. Everything was packed everywhere we couldn’t find a place to eat. We decided to head out of the city so we said goodbye to Keith and Buck and headed back to the Museum for our car. Getting out of the city wasn’t a problem, traffic was moving fine and we headed north for food and home.

I took our video and made a post on YouTube in two parts with music and stuff. I couldn’t get the conversion right so the quality wasn’t what I had hoped it would be. If you search gstadig and or red sox parade you should be able to find them if you want to check them out.