How I became a Boston Red Sox fan

How does a Yankee fan become a Boston Red Sox Fan? Well, this is my story. I grew up in upstate New York. My family are Yankee fans. A number of years ago, my brother Jonathan gave me a Yankees hat which I quickly fell in love with and wore all the time. While living in Virginia I claimed to be a Yankees fan. True, I never watched any baseball and I couldn't tell you the first thing about the Yankees team. But I loved my Yankees hat and I wore it proudly. And then I moved to Boston. I quickly realized that “claiming” to be a Yankee’s fan would not easily cut it in this city. If I was going to bravely wear my hat in Boston I would need to fully commit to the Yankees. Wearing a Yankees hat would not be enough. I also realized that New Englanders are very serious and passionate about their sports. I have been living in the Boston area for 3 months now. During this time, the Red Sox have been on a winning strike. My husband and I found ourselves caught up in the excitement and we watched a few games. As we were watching the Red Sox play, I realized this was the most baseball I have ever watched. I also noticed that the Boston Red Sox hats were conveniently the same color blue as the Yankees hat. I felt myself getting drawn in. Yet, I am from New York.This was not a decision to be made lightly. Saturday night was an important game. If the Red Sox won this game against Detroit Tigers they would go to the World Series. My husband and I also decided we would let this game determine if we would officially commit to the Red Sox. So we invited our good friends Micah and Jannat over for dinner and to watch the game. Now, in the past my baseball watching was more of an opportunity to talk and socialize. Not this game. This game was intense and exciting. When Shane Victorino’s seventh- inning grand slam propelled Boston to a 5-2 victory over the Detroit Tigers, I declared to my husband that we were Red Sox fans! My dad is actually a Red Sox fan. During my parent’s first visit to see us, my dad went to two Red Sox games in the three days they were here. Our family is now equally divided in loyalties between the Red Sox and Yankees. Tonight is the first game of the World Series. My school is in Boston, not far from Fenway Park. Today we could wear jeans and Red Sox gear in support of Boston. It was pretty incredible. Every single staff member and student was decked out in their Red Sox clothing and hats. I have the cutest picture of my students proudly cheering on Boston in their Red Sox shirts. While I was excited for this opportunity to wear jeans, I just become a fan a few days ago. I quickly bought a Red Sox t-shirt to wear. However, I was disappointed that I didn't have a baseball hat. Until my wonderful husband surprised me with my very own Boston Red Sox hat, in the perfect shade of blue. I love my husband. As I think about this journey, the underlying reason of why I have become a Red Sox fan dawns on me. Boston feels like home. That is God’s grace and goodness right there. I have fallen in love with Boston and this city is now my home. And it is really is that simple. It’s not about the players or the team, it’s not about the fact they are in the World Series, and it’s not even about the color of the hat. It actually comes down to the fact that if Boston is truly your home, you simply are a Red Sox fan. Boston is my home. And that is my story of becoming a Boston Red Sox fan.