After all this time of not working, nearly 5 years now, Fridays are always still special. I can feel it in my bones, starting back in grade school when the buzzer sounded signifying the beginning of another weekend. Even though every day is now the same in retirement, the energy of freedom is in the air as the workforce takes a break for a few days. For me, it only means longer lines in the stores, more people at the beach, and more traffic. For them, it’s the magic of the weekend and more time with family, friends, and favorite activities. This is why we’re going to the Mote Aquarium today rather than tomorrow, so we can avoid the crowds even though we’ll pay more. 

I had lunch with my son and granddaughter at Firehouse Subs yesterday, and when we got back to their house he turned on the White Sox game just in time to watch them clinch a playoff berth over the Indians (soon to be the Guardians). It was a special moment for me, the first time they won the American League Central division in 13-years, and the first time in franchise history that they made the postseason, let alone the World Series, in back-to-back years, dating back to 1969 when the playoffs first started. Manager Tony La Russa was thrilled – the happy face of a Little Leaguer, as he dreamed about the prospect of a fourth World Series championship with three different teams. He first managed the White Sox from 1979-1986, winning only one post season game. He moved to the Oakland A’s to claim his first ring in 1989, sandwiched between two other American League pennants. Two other rings were earned with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2006 and 2011 along with a National League crown in 2004. The White Sox hired him back this year at the age of 76 after a 10-year hiatus from the game. As of yesterday, his teams have finished first in their Division 13 times and achieved playoff status 14 times in 35 years at the helm. 

Back in 1983, after winning 99 regular season games, a 38-year old La Russa (he’s twice as old now) took the Sox into October but only won one match-up and lost three against the Orioles, who went on to win it all. He had players like Carlton Fisk, Tom Paciorek, Ron Kittle, Harold Baines, Greg Luzinski, Greg Walker, Scott Fletcher, Jerry Hairston, LaMarr Hoyt, Richard Dotson, and Floyd Bannister, to name a few of the stars. They wore the red, white, and blue jerseys when the team was known for “Winning Ugly.” They are not my favorite, however, they’ve brought them back this year in honor of La Russa’s initial playoff success with the team. As a side note, they were first unretired and not so lucky for the 2014 season under Robin Ventura when they finished 4th at 73-89. I’m sure we’ll see them at home this year where they will most likely play the Astros, speaking of ugly uniforms. Let’s Go Sox.