Love, Detroit.

Saturday night we were invited to Dutch and Wood's house for dinner and we looked forward to the event all week and it was special because this was the first time we got to hang out with them without the kids.

Logan and I are....not always smart. We decided to head downtown early so that we could stop at a bar somewhere to have a drink before joining the Junipers after they got the baby down to sleep. "We'll just go somewhere in Greektown."

There was this game though? This little game happening a few blocks away from Greektown? So the minute we got off the freeway and saw signs for $30 parking, we knew we'd just made a terrible mistake. Why can we not wrap our brains around sports?

We finally found a parking spot a couple blocks from the stadium and thought about getting a drink, but by that point we had just 30 minutes until we were expected at the Junipers stylish abode. We decided instead of getting a drink we'd walk over and take a look around the stadium.

We stood there for 30 minutes and I had a smile on my face the entire time. It was the best kind of energy hanging around those gates.

The best kind of energy or the drunkest kind of energy, which also made me smile.

I am not a sports fan. I had no idea who Granderson was until I read this table graffiti and wondered who 'Anderson' was and why he's the hottest black man alive. But standing there outside that stadium I felt so happy for Detroit. And not surprisingly, it almost made me cry. Just listen to that joy. You'd want to cry too.

At the end of that clip you hear me say, 'God....it's awesome!' Which is some amazing and insightful commentary.

It was just before 8pm when the Tigers won and we were expected for dinner, so we made a dash for our car before the crowds spilled out into the streets. As we hurried away from the stadium, people were running toward the stadium.

Some of them were a little drunk, some were homeless, some were waving brooms and all of them were full of joy. I've never walked down the streets of Detroit and high fived anyone. Last night, we Wooo-ed with strangers and high fived them and reveled in their pride and excitement. This morning Logan said, "This is what Detroit needs."

Since the Junipers have moved here we've had a lot of rainy weekends and then, this week, in mid October, it snowed. But it seems that although they've brought bad weather to Detroit, they've also brought really good baseball with them.

Earlier this month the kids and I drove down to Bell Isle, on the way Madison said, 'You know? Since Juniper moved here we've been going to Detroit a lot more often."

And it's true. Before they moved here I decided to try to see the city with a new set of eyes. A pair of more supportive eyes. And since they've lived here, we've found more and more things to do downtown.

If they hadn't moved here we wouldn't have been going to dinner to celebrate someone's birthday and we wouldn't have been standing outside Comerica Park watching our community celebrate and celebrating with them.

Also if they hadn't moved here we wouldn't have photographic evidence of what may possibly be my most awkward hug ever. Even I didn't know how awkward I could make things. Wow.

Update: ESPN article which echos my sentiments about Adams Street Saturday night. "The economy may be bad, and the auto industry may be struggling, and the Lions may be winless, but for a good hour Saturday night, a slab of pavement in Detroit was the happiest place on Earth." (Thanks, Bobby!)

Comments

[Suebob Davis]

Aw, it DID make me cry. Maybe before Mr Stapler I wouldn't have, but when the Angels won, it meant SOOOOOO much to him that I finally understood a little of what baseball fandom means.

I am jealous beyond repair of your evenings with Dutch and Wood. I can't really say anything has ever made me long to live in Detroit before...

[LOD]

Egad. The beard. I was groping for something snarky to say, but then Moxie piped in with, "He looks like a member of ABBA."

One of the men, presumably.

[jenB]

Honestly Melissa, and with lots of love to Dutch, he looks WAY MORE awkward here than you. :-)

and LOD, "Benny" is the ABBA member you are thinking of. Not that I was a huge fan when I was 13 or anything. Bjorn didn't have a beard.

[FlippyO]

Well, of course it was an awkward hug, that man is possessed. I'll bet his head spun around slowly 360 degrees, right after that hug.

Since the Dodgers were knocked out in the first round, go Tigers!

But really, did anyone see the awesome ending of the Leafs game last night???

[flailingmyarms]

I was living in Cleveland when the Indians had their run in the playoffs. Sports fan or not, it's great to watch a city rally around something like that.

And yes, holy crap is that an awkward hug.

[dutch]

The whole time Logan was holding the camera he was like, "look extremely gay, Dutch! Gayer! Gayer! Okay, perfect." [flash] So as much as I'd like to blame Logan for that photo, it's really my fault for being so extraordinarily submissive when wasted like I haven't been in seven years.

The drinking. Seriously. I always thought all this talk of the Summers drinking was a bit hyperbolic for comic effect, but Christ those motherfuckers can drink. I was trying my best to keep up with them but by the time they were ready to go the room was spinning and I was lucky to make way over to the couch to pass out without puking. I think Melissa probably urged Logan to stop at another bar on the way home.

As for the beard, LOD, I believe it was you who told me over sushi that I should grow a beard to be more intimidating to potential muggers. So the beard is partly your fault. It doesn't help that Melissa keeps publishing photos of it from the side. from the front it does a serviceable job of hiding a few of my extra chins, so I'm going to keep it until Wood decides she no longer wants to be fucked by a guy Moxie thinks looks like a Swedish pop star from he 70s, but for all I know Wood likes that.

As for the sentiment of this post, we are glad that you keep coming down. We are even more glad that no one has stolen your car. Yet.

[Melissa Summers]

"Really gay it up for me Dutch." I think were Logan's exact words.

I think it's so cute what a cheap date you are. My haggard liver wanted to pinch you on the cheek. Please note I wasn't drinking liquor and even Logan says Expedition Stout kicks him in the ass.

If the car is stolen, that's what insurance is for.

[Monica]

May I ask: Which Superhero necklace is that? I just bought Chlorine, and I'm second guessing myself every day. It took me months, literally, to make a choice. I hope it's as beautiful on me as yours is on you...

And I think Logan's starting to rub off on Dutch? He's not looking so much gay as metro. Will running till he craps his pants be next for Dutch?

[susies]

As a rabid Red Sox fan, that movie outside the stadium raised the hairs on my neck, gave me goosebumps and made my eyes tear up. God, baseball is great. It is the greatest.

[msadventures]

Dude, um, Melissa? If some dude with big white eyeballs was trying to hug me, I'd feel a little awkward myself. Don't worry about it, lady.

(No offense to peeps with big white eyeballs.)

[TeriLynn]

The Lions won one yesterday.

ech. did i just say that?
i hate my force-fed-sports life sometimes.

-miao.

[Ginjoint]

Wait. Just wait a minute. Your baseball team is about to sweep the playoffs and the two of you...forget? Oh, to be so relaxed about my home team, the Chicago Cubs.

Ninety-eight years and counting, baby. Hey, any team can have a bad century.

Go Tigers!

P.S. I'm also reeling that you were able to find a parking place "a couple blocks from the stadium." I live 6 blocks from Wrigley Field (where the Cubs play), and parking is cutthroat. Even the nuns shake people down.

P.P.S. susies, I bawled when the Red Sox won. And thinking about Steinbrenner's head exploding...just sweet.

[Velma]

As a resident of Red Sox Nation, I know the feeling. It really pulls you in, all that joy. Also?

Best. Gay (and/or) Awkward Hug EVAH!

[Bailey]

Made me get teary eyed when they won. It also makes me laugh everytime I see Polanco rounding the bases jumping like a little kid.

[Bailey]

Just wondering if he had his leg in your lap during the awkward "hug"?

[Nichole]

I'm so happy for Detroit. It makes me giddy and weepy to think about. My family is from Michigan, and my husband is a Cubs fan, so I've been surrounded by baseball heartache since the late 80s.

[lisa]

I don't even know ANY of you, but somehow it makes me so happy to know that the Junipers and the Blisses hang out together.

[onbeelay]

Don't feel too bad Dutch, I have it on good authority that the fierce cold of Michigan makes the liver thicker and more able to handle the onslaught of Alcohol. Your liver has been pussified by woosy San Fran. More beer battered stuff and nights out in Detroit and you'll be right back.