Expectations are a funny part of human nature. Depending on your prior experiences, they could be sky high or basement-dwellingly low.
When I was a little girl, I expected Prince Charming to show up on a white horse with roses and sweep me off the feet. Now, I just hope if I go on a date, I’m not asked “So, how are we doing this?” when the check comes. Years of disappointment has that effect on a woman.
That’s how I felt about the Pirates all these years. So many let downs and heart breaks had us all at a point where being wooed all the way to the World Series was never quite a realistic dream. But man, if they could just get to an over .500 record, we would be happy. It would be a positive sign. It’s like when the guy opens the car door for me. It seems like something so small and insignificant, but it’s all you allow yourself to expect for fear of being let down yet again.
And then my expectations changed. Was there always hesitation? Of course. With the Pirates, like with men, I’d gotten my hopes up before, only to be crushed into a bitter young woman, cynical beyond my years. Except it just FELT different, this time, you know? The team battled into wins from deficits. The bullpen — even riddled with injuries to key guys — remained one of the best in the league. Any time they suffered straight losses, that nervous feeling of dread and looming despair would start to surface, only to be subdued by more resounding victories. The Pirates surpassed .500 for the first time in more than two decades, but it was no longer enough. Our expectations changed.
Playoffs. We wanted “Buctober.” They opened the door, pulled out our chair, paid the tab and kissed us like we’ve never been kissed before. They did everything right. This was it. Teenage girls who’ve had their young hearts broken often recite the quote “All a girl wants is one man to prove they’re not all the same.”
That’s what Pittsburgh wanted out of these Pirates. And after years of waiting, we finally got it.
On Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2013, the Pittsburgh Pirates won the wildcard matchup in PNC Park, in an atmosphere that a novice writer like myself can not even begin to put into words. That was our wedding. We hoped and prayed and prepared and at last, the moment was here. At last, we knew things would never be the same again. The 2013 Pittsburgh Pirates had at long last proven that they were ‘the one.’ We have to remain realistic in our expectations, and realize that just like in a marriage, there will be some tough times, some highs and lows, but this bond is for life. The ride is worth it.
I’ve come to understand there is no Prince Charming. There is no perfect man, there probably isn’t a fairy tale ending, but there’s hope. Maybe the Pirates aren’t World Series champions, but they far exceeded our expectations. They reignited a love and a passion that many of us have never experienced. We deserved better than the last twenty years and at last, we got it.
Now if only my love life could take the same turn…
