The long, long, long-awaited Cubs parade did not disappoint

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Yesterday the Cubs finally got to have the parade that Chicago waited 108 years for. It started at Wrigley Field and ended at Grant Park, and passed a ridiculous, insane number of people along the way. And I do mean INSANE. People were so excited that they might have flown away from happiness ... that is, if they weren’t doing actual trust falls off 18-foot statues and traffic signs.

Other people jumped into the river, which had been dyed blue for the occasion.

And at least one person was studying how the police handle large crowds. Supposedly.

Jon Lester live-tweeted much of the parade. The buses were so high up that he lost his hat on a power line.

The cheers were loud, and he loved it. He noticed the people climbing on everything to get a look at the parade, and hoped they’d be safe. He tweeted a request for a fan to throw them a pair of sunglasses because John Lackey lost his. He apologized for the traffic. (So considerate!)

He even tweeted about Travis Wood and his sleeveless camo vest, though he didn’t mention that Wood was double-fisting red Solo Cups full of beer and pouring it on his teammates.

The ceremony itself was full of cheers, praise, and gratitude. Each of the Cubs managers and coaches was introduced, and then Joe Maddon came out and said a few words. GM Theo Epstein thanked fans for their legendary patience through bad years, which were more recent than people will remember. The players also were introduced, with some offering comments. Anthony Rizzo was one of the last to speak and became emotional talking about his close friend David Ross, who has officially retired. Ross, fighting back tears, kept his remarks to the crowd short, and then Rizzo returned to give the ball from the last out to owner Tom Ricketts. To end it all, country singer Brett Eldredge led the massive crowd in “Go, Cubs, Go.” And of course, Travis Wood took his shirt off. Never change, Cubs.