My Happy Place
It's my first Cubs game of the season. Of course, I'm taking the "L."
The moment I step into Wrigley Field, I'm flooded with memories of my dad. He was a lifelong Cubs fan, and our family had season tickets, so we were there all the time. My mom would pack a huge cooler with fried chicken, drinks, chips, desserts — you name it. Then, after the seventh-inning stretch, my dad would buy me a pretzel. It was our tradition.
Walking through the gates, I pause to take in the familiar sights, sounds, and smells. As I make my way up the ramps, there's an unmistakable electricity in the air. Then I reach the entrance to my section, and the brilliant green of the outfield comes into view.
It reminds me of The Wizard of Oz — the moment Dorothy opens the door and the world shifts from gray to Technicolor.
Beer vendors call out to the crowd. The crack of a bat during batting practice echoes through the stadium. In that moment, there's nowhere else I'd rather be.
So much has changed over the years, yet at Wrigley, so much feels exactly the same.
This time, I'm sharing the experience with my husband, my brother, and my sister-in-law. I'm incredibly grateful to have these tickets. Back in 2015, a client asked if I knew anyone who wanted to join a Cubs ticket group. Without missing a beat, I answered, "Me!"
The timing couldn't have been better. That season, the Cubs finished with the third-best record in baseball and beat the Cardinals in the Division Series. I was there the night they clinched it. I'll never forget the home runs by Kyle Schwarber, Anthony Rizzo, and Javier Báez.
My dad passed away in 1997, but every time I walk into Wrigley, I feel like he's right there with me — cheering every hit, every out, and reminding me it's time for that seventh-inning pretzel.
When the crowd broke into "Go, Cubs, Go," I sang along through tears. My dad gave me so much, but one of the greatest gifts was his love for the Cubs. Now I get to pass that tradition on to my daughters by taking them to as many games as I can.
The following season, we celebrated the Cubs finally winning the World Series. Even my husband — still an Indians fan... okay, a Guardians fan — could appreciate what that moment meant.
Wrigley will always be my happy place. It's where I can slow down, enjoy a beer and a pretzel, spend time with family and friends, and reconnect with some of my favorite memories of my dad.
We all need a place that reminds us of who we are and where we came from.
What's your happy place? Have you been there lately? If not, what are you waiting for?
Shari Greco Reiches is Regional Director and Partner at EP Wealth Advisors. In 2005, Shari co-founded Rappaport Reiches Capital Management. She is the architect of the firm's Investing In Your Values solution, which aligns clients' financial planning with their core values. She is a frequent speaker on financial planning and values, author of Maximize Your Return on Life - Invest Your Time and Money in What You Value Most and enjoys mentoring women in the wealth management profession. Please connect with Shari. She loves to talk about investing, financial planning, and Barry Manilow.