My day started at 4:30 a.m. with my own version of Ferris Bueller's Day Off in mind. While I didn't have Cameron and Sloane by my side, I had Jan and Mila. And it was definitely a different day than my usual. But before I provide the details, here's my report card of the day.
Horseland - A
Smurfs on pre-rally crowd opening - F
Smurfs on rally patrol - D
Smurfs on parade route partrol - B+
Fraggles at the pre-rally waiting area - B-
Fraggles at the rally - C
Fraggles at the parade - A
Bring It On Boys - B+ (purely because of my coaching abilities)
Bring It On Girls - A- (They screwed the dismount the first time)
So we got to the rally area bright and early this morning. A few hundred people, possibly a thousand were in and around the area. We eventually made our way to the front barricade area, so that we could be one of the first 100 in. Oh, how wrong we were! It was pure madness when people had to enter via jumping over or crawling under double blue barricades. (Bad planning!!!). This madness only got worse once I moved around (refused to climb or crawl) a barricade and attempted to walk with the crowd to enter Grant Park. People were pushing and shoving like it was Walmart on Black Friday.
My friends and I made it safely past the "bag security" check (note: this was a farce) and walked the long walk to the stage at Hutchinson Field. While we walked, hundreds, maybe thousands, of people ran past us. At this point we were resigned to just finding a good spot to hear the players live, see them on the Jumbo-tron and possibly catch slight glimpses at the stage.
We put our blankets down and prepared to wait. We were quickly joined by other friends and continued our wait with fun people around us. Until . . .
A fight broke out right in front of us, beside us, and then behind us. At this point, I was standing holding all my stuff. Imagine flip flops under my arms. All the while watching these guys fight without official intervention. (That's the short version of what really happened). As a result of the fight, lack of clear view, sun beating down on us, and general madness all around, my two friends decided we should leave. I agreed with this decision because we all know, people in the Chi like to retaliate with bullets. And I definitely did not have time for that.
We found a great spot to watch the parade right outside the rally area. And two guys kindly let Mila and I in front of them. This provided an even better view for us to see the Blackhawks and the Stanley Cup. After all, that is what we were there to see. The people around us were fun and friendly and a much better trade off from the rowdy peeps inside the rally. We were joined by others who also left the rally.
We chose a great position that allowed me to see Toews with the Cup! Yes, I saw Jonathan Toews with the Stanley Cup. Made my day. It was all worth it, at that point! Even if I did get a crappy pic of him lifting the cup. The memory is in my head forever. (or as long as my long-term memory lasts). Our parade location position also allowed us to get out, back into the downtown loop area, relatively easy. We saw some people
trying to knock down a tall gate put up around another field in Grant Park on the way. I wish more Chicagoans could show how to have a classy celebration. I guess I can't have it all my way. The red horse had plenty of seats and provided for a smooth ride north. By the end, I think I clocked 7+ hours in the sun and lots of pics to remember the day.
