By Ann McGough
Reporter Staff

What Boston waited 86 years for has finally happened - the Boston Red Sox won the World Series!

This is what we've always wanted isn't it? Then why have (male) fans from Portland, to Providence, to Peabody Square been overheard saying things like, "I waited so long for this, I don't feel like I expected to feel." "I thought winning would feel different." "I can't stop crying. I mean I am so happy, but every time they play the Sox' season highlights, I really fill up."

Guys, don't be alarmed. All these feelings you have and don't know what to do with are perfectly normal. Stop beating yourself up. What you have is post-partum depression. It just has a lot to do with the sudden change in your life and the fact that you have not been getting your usual amount of sleep with all of those extra inning games. But, the good news is, this will probably just take care of itself.

Your whole life, you have been glued to the Boston Red Sox, from April until early October. You have endured shoddy transistor radios at beaches, television sets with no cable, and the angry wrath of your wives, mothers, and mothers-in-law when you snuck out of important family functions so you could steal a quick glance at the game or "grab the score."

You always said, and believed, "This is the year!" but were never totally surprised when someone made a wild pitch, let the ball roll between their knees, or overstayed their welcome on the pitchers mound, causing the Sox to lose the series, the pennant, or the season.

But, come hell or high water, no matter how little leagueish the errors and the losses were, Sox fans donned their team colors the next day and started pinning for the next season. "What with that new manager and these new trades", we'll be all set. But year after year, the Sox would be way ahead, then way behind, then back on top again, only to turn into pumpkins at the big dance, causing chest pains and nervous twitches all over the greater New England area. Until this year. We really got our fairy tale ending! Roger Clemens made a prediction, "If the Red Sox win the World Series, they'll (Bostonians) be happy for about one week, then they'll go back to being miserable."

Guys, let's prove them wrong. Be happy. Enjoy it. It's okay. Just because we won the World Series this year, doesn't mean we can't get excited about next year. And in the mean time, apologize to your wife if you ever gave her a hard time for not being herself after your children were born. Because, like winning a World Series, a new baby is a big life adjustment.

And one more thing ... LET'S GO PATS!