I’m running on about five and a half hours of sleep, and I’ll admit that I didn’t stay up to watch all 18 innings of game 3. (I went to bed at 10:30 p.m.) But in reality, that doesn’t matter because

THE BOSTON RED SOX ARE WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS.

I cried after the final out, and I cried for a solid 15 minutes. It got worse when they would keep showing the final out and Vazquez running out into Chris Sale’s arms. And really any overhead shot of those guys celebrating like little kids on the field. This was no different than me crying after the final out of the 2013 World Series on the couch in my apartment at college.

Did I think at the start of this season we’d win the World Series? Nope. After the last two seasons and failed postseason appearances, I didn’t think they had it in them again. And I wasn’t keen on J.D. Martinez yet. But boy was I proved wrong.

There was just something so special about this team. I feel like we’ve said that with the other three championship teams, but each were special in their own way. The 2004 team broke the curse, the 2007 team made sure ’04 wasn’t a fever dream, and the 2013 team helped rebuild a city after the bombing. This 2018 team? It was just for darn fun and the ability to play “New York, New York” in the clubhouse after the World Series—and after beating the division rival Yanks and defending World Series champion Astros.

I stayed up to watch most of the post-game coverage and watch them pop champagne in the clubhouse. My favorite part is seeing the Instagram stories and posts from the players because it makes it seem more realistic than just seeing it on TV. Plus you can see some crazy behind the scenes stuff.

These guys just clicked, and I honestly think it has mostly everything to do with Alex Cora. I was excited that he was coming back to Boston, and he’s truly #MyManager. He brings a new age of baseball managing, and he played in Boston, so he gets it already. There’s a good mix of veterans and young guys, and they look like they’re having fun all the time. I know that baseball is a business, blah blah blah, but the guys have to have fun. Because they’re doing this for basically six months straight.

It hasn’t even been a full day yet since they clinched and it doesn’t feel real yet. Even after I went to Dick’s Sporting Goods and bought a shirt and pennant. (Pro tip: youth extra-larges are just a smidge smaller than a men’s small, so I’m saving like $10 by buying a youth XL.)

I got the pennant to hang up in my office along with my 2013 one. Most of my co-workers are Red Sox fans/follow baseball, so it’s nice to have people to talk baseball with. (No offense, old office.)

I’ve changed my work computer background after each series with the group picture, and the first thing I did this morning when I got to work—with ample caffeine from my tea—was change my background.

(Featuring some of my Halloween decorations in the back on my window.)

At some point this will sink in, but I also like living in this fantasy world of, “Did it really happen?” I know in the past I questioned if I was a bad baseball fan, but it doesn’t matter when you’re there through it all, even if you miss a few games here and there. Because it’s all about the ones that truly count.

(PS: Still can’t get over Rick Porcello jumping naked into one of the big containers of beer.)