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Despite the negative tones from my previous blog not-making-a-read-dozonlifecom-sign-for-the-patriots-parade-may-haunt-me-forever.html I had a fantastic time at the Patriots Parade. It was a great day with some great people and a parade over 15 years in the making for me. I've been to two championship parades before yesterday: 2011 Bruins and 2013 Red Sox, but never a Patriots one. I swore in 2014 that if they won the Super Bowl, I was going to go. I even called my shot months before the big game.
However come parade day none of those dreams came to fruition as I was student teaching at the time. Even though my boss said I could go I chose not to. I wanted to look professional and thought it would make me look good. It was also like 2 degrees that day. Wicked stupid move by me to not go, I mean look where I am right now. Going to that parade wouldn't of made anything in my life worse. Totally should've gone back then. I told myself after that if the Patriots ever won another Super Bowl I'd be at the parade. They did so I was there.
TBH it still hasn't set in yet that the Patriots won the Super Bowl. I still need to write my post game thoughts about the game. I've rematched parts of it like 3 times already and still can't believe it actually happened. I'll get more into that later. This post is about the parade.
The day started out how most parades do: with drinking. To my credit I actually handled the day very well. Unlike in 2013 when I fell asleep on a water fountain. I could've been a drunk mess yesterday, I mean the Patriots just won the Super Bowl. I deserved it. But despite having a fair share of mimosa's and Jack Daniels I never really even got buzzed. At 25 I still don't know how to drink properly. Oh well. I think I was just too focused on getting to the parade. It ended up being for the best given the conditions of the day. After we got to the train station the party officially began. — Ryan (@rhodydoz) February 8, 2017
I was only half serious when I said this.
On the commuter rail it was absolutely packed. Now even though I'm a Boston guy (sports wise) I really don't know shit about the city in a sense of public transportation and how to get around. I know how to take the T to Fenway and that's about it. I could be wrong but I did not understand this from the MBTA.
Is that like something only locals understand?
It was mostly Patriots fans on the train headed to the parade, but there definitely were a few people just trying to get to work. We didn't have seats. I was fine with that. I wasn't going to sit. It's called manners, get some. I'm an (sorta) able-bodied man, I know you don't sit when it's crowded and there's older people and women also standing. It's called class. I have it. Part of me felt bad for the people just trying to get into the city but yo straight up.. yesterday wasn't about them. It was about the Patriots. The train was kind of boring and dead so it was up to my squad to bring some life to the place. Sorry for having fun.
Lots of people were joining in and filming us. I could tell they were having fun. That's what it's all about. I'd like to think we stole the show. The Patriots may have won the Super Bowl, but our group won the train ride.
You gotta make the most of these days. Sure there's been 10 parades in Boston since 2002 but you never know when you're gonna get another opportunity to do it again. We might have to wait all the way until October when the Red Sox win the World Series to get another one of these. TBH I think we did all the people on the train a favor by bringing it to life. You can read on your kindle tomorrow.
We finally get off the train and we were running a little late. But not late enough for me to a Brady chant the second we got off the train.
— Ryan (@rhodydoz) February 8, 2017
But that's because the train was running late due to the weather. It wasn't our faults. Luckily that pushed back the parade too so we ended up having plenty of time. The first spot we went to was way too crowded but luckily I pushed enough to get us a nice open spot. However space was at a premium so people were doing whatever they could to get a good look.
The two guys letting their buddy stand on their shoulders win the best friends of the year award. There's no way that didn't hurt.
I wasn't kidding about space being at a premium. Smart move by these guys to stand on what the hell this is. 
A closer look:
When the duck boats started coming the first one included the man behind it all, RKK, Mr Robert Kraft. Please don't let my shitty iPhone 5S camera take away from how awesome of an experience this was. 
Everybody was waving their open hands in the arm to represent the 5 Super Bowls the Patriots have won.
Edelman made sure everybody remembered by counting to 5 for every block of the parade. — Ryan (@rhodydoz) February 8, 2017
I took a bunch of pictures but this one perfectly caught Matt Patricia and Bill Belichick soaking it all up. I wonder what they were saying. Knowing all I know about the two I figure something like this.
Matt: "This is fucking awesome Bill"
Bill: "Yeah this is alright, but on Tuesdays I always watch Rutgers tape. We're already 5 weeks behind, God Damnit" Then of course there was the man everybody wanted to see. The G.O.A.T. himself: Mr. Tom Brady. 
Watching Tom enjoy this moment with his kids was very special. After all he's been through the last two years nobody deserved this moment more than Tom Brady.
It didn't matter that Gronk missed the end of the season. You knew he was steal the show at the parade.
Gronk said he wasn't planning on partying that much but it just happened because the fans wanted it. That's probably the biggest crock of shit I've ever heard. It's like when I say on a Friday night I'm not gonna go drinking and then end up passed out on a bar. You know Gronk was gonna be going ham at the parade. No need to fib Rob.
Then you had Chris Long wearing a really scary Julian Edelman mask. I actually thought it was him for a second and I was like "oh I guess Julian shaved" 
It was an absolutely awesome day, such a fun atmosphere. I've been blessed to be a Patriots fan. It was incredible to be in the crowd to celebrate their 5th championship. Given the circumstances of the game it seemed like there was a good chance this parade wouldn't happen. I would've never though at like 7:30 Sunday night that not only would I be at the Patriots parade but I'm be an actual part of it.
P.S. Check out this video my man Z la B made of the parade. Awesome stuff. We're gonna hopefully starting working together more to make videos for DOL.
1 Comment
J.DC5
2/8/2017 06:24:34 pm
Best. Day. Ever. Leave a Reply. |
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