Where Was I: Red Sox Home Opener, Fenway Park, April 4, 2014 (World Series Banner! World Series Rings!)

There are no words that can adequately describe this day.

OK, well, there are words in the captions...

The view from Loge Box 128, Row MM, Seat 9, 27 rows behind home plate. (Note, in right field, the Boston Pops, who performed throughout the banner and ring ceremony.)

First they unfurled, one by one, five  banners...

... then a sixth...

... then a seventh....

... then an eight. (Boston first responders holding down the banners, BTW.)

They then presented the rings, starting with manager John Farrell. (Hey, Blue Jay fans: still bitter?)

The first player to get his ring was Dustin Pedroia.

The last, after a thundering ovation (more on that below), Big Papi.

Also, the Dropkick Murphys were performing, first the national anthem, and then Shipping Up to Boston (pictured).

I lied, there are words.  Random comments about Opening Day:

- The loudest cheers,by far, were for David Ortiz, who is a revered as a god in Boston.  Intellectually, I think I knew this, but I have never witnessed live such a near-Big Brother love-in as there is for Big Papi in Boston.

- The next loudest ovations were for Dustin Pedroia, Jon Lester and Mike Napoli. At a level slightly less loud than those three: John Lackey, which surprised me.

- Almost as loud as the cheers for Papi were the boos for Ryan Braun every time he came up to the plate.  I cannot recall ever hearing a player booed so loudly.