I love this city

This past week has really been an emotional one for all of St. Louis. Every night I’ve been sitting on the edge of my bed, wondering why such tragic things happen. Losing Oscar Taveras is still something that I just can’t quite put my finger on. But there’s something about living in this city that makes it a lot easier…

As I met fans from Cardinal Nation this weekend, it made me realize how much of a family we are. We all discussed how hard it is to lose someone who we’ve never physically met before. There’s that understanding that we all have of each other that nobody else really has to offer.

I love this city – and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.

Sure, this city has insane, bi-polar weather. Sure, this city has its flaws that are beyond our control. It isn’t big, but something about the people here makes this city bigger than New York.

Warm and welcoming hearts are always around every time I come downtown for anything. It’s something about that old-time atmosphere that makes St. Louis that much friendlier. Every time you come downtown, expect many people to send you a smile and ask how you’re doing.

To me, this is what a city should be all about. It isn’t about how big the city is, or how great the sports teams are. It all comes down to the citizens who live there and how well we all treat one another.

I wish I could put into words how well St. Louis has treated me. I would say that I am very fortunate to be born in such a friendly community. I wouldn’t have wanted to grow up anywhere else. The history that St. Louis has to offer is like no other. From the Loop, to the Gateway Arch – there is a story behind nearly every building and every statue.

The people in St. Louis treat you like family. If you go to a sporting event, for example, you feel like you’re surrounded by one big family. That is what makes the whole Oscar Taveras situation so much easier to mourn. People understand that Cardinal Nation is one family of our own. You could be a hundred days old or a hundred years old, whether you’re a player playing on the field, or if you’re watching from the seats – you will always be welcomed to this little baseball family of ours.

This article is a bit different. I thought that I should set stats and post-baseball season depression aside. I just wanted to say how great of a city St. Louis is. People will talk bad about us, whether it be about our sports teams, our reputation, or our looks. Whatever people say will never make me change the way I love my hometown.

Are you proud to be a St. Louisan? I sure as hell am.

Fly high, Cardinal Nation.

Carly Schaber
Twitter: @Carly_Schaber

Photo: Columbia Missourian