The Year of Magical Thinking

I was amused to see an article in the New York Times today on a topic that’s been on my mind: magical thinking. The article, Do You Believe in Magic?, tells the story of a girl from Texas who wanted nothing more than to get into The University of Michigan. While having lunch with a friend one rainy day she noticed someone stroll by with a Michigan umbrella. Given the rarity of seeing anything Michigan in Texas, the girl took it as a sign. She knew right then and there that she’d get into the school.

With the Bears heading to the Superbowl, Chicago is experiencing a wave of magical thinking. Normally un-superstitious people are turning into superstitious fanatics. For example, my normally hygienic friends won’t wash their lucky Bears socks, shirts, boxers, etc. They’d rather stink then curse their team. My co-worker has made lasagna for her family every single time the Bears won a game this season. And she’s not stopping now. She’s planning a huge lasagna Superbowl meal for all her family and friends. My future brother-in-law has watched the past few Bears games at my apartment and every time he’s in the bathroom the Bears do well. Therefore, whenever Matt is feeling insecure about the Bears' level of play, he sends his brother to bathroom. The strange karma stories go on and on.

Since I’ve moved to Chicago the White Sox have been in the World Series and the Bears are headed to the Superbowl. It was my future b-i-l who actually pointed that out to me. (Too bad my luck doesn’t work the same for the Yanks and the Jets.) Just like the Michigan umbrella, I see the Bears' success as a sign of good things to come in 2007. Bears 26, Colts 21.