Unpacking my Bags

The Seattle Mariners have made it to the next round of the Major League Baseball playoffs. Go M's!

I just checked baseball scores, and fortunately or unfortunately, depending on your perspective, the Cubs lost today to the Milwaukee Brewers, not advancing.

But what if?

What if the Mariner had to play the Cubs in the World Series? Who would I root for? The baseball team of my childhood and my twenties, or my current hometown team? I've lived in Chicago longer than I've lived in Seattle, but not by much. The gap gets smaller every year.

I was talking to my friend Christie the other day, a Seattle friend who was born and raised in Chicago. She was once called out on rooting for a Chicago team after living in Seattle since she was thirty.

"You haven't unpacked your bags, have you?" he asked her.

Have I unpacked mine? Would I root-root-root for my home team, or my hometown team? 

When the Cubs won the World Series in 2016, I was elated, not just for me, but my grandfather's ghost. He unpacked his bags when he moved from Sicily to the U.S. in his twenties. I think the first thing he did when he arrived in Chicago after finding a job was to become a Cubs fan.

When the M's won last night after a marathon fifteen innings, I heard the fireworks from T-Mobile at my downtown condo before the internet posted the score. I was thrilled, after biting my nails for most of the game. I wanted the M's to win, and I would have been sad if they had lost.

I love Chicago and I love Seattle. They are my two favorite cities in the U.S. Asking me which one I like better is like asking me to pick my favorite child. It isn't fair. 

Nevertheless, these cities aren't my kids. Should I be loyal and root for my hometown team, the Cubs? I saw my first Major League game at Wrigley Field when I was twelve. I attended games there in my twenties with my girls and Jack. Or, should I unpack my bags and root for the team where I live now, the city where I raised my kids, where I ran for School Board? Which city and team would I root for?

After much soul searching and introspection, I realize the answer is simple. I'll root for whichever team is losing.