Somewhere in that mob scene, I’m dancing and cheering. I can’t pick myself out, but it’s right in front of my office so I know I’m there somewhere. What a wonderful experience to see our amazing USWNT players given so much love. I cried and I say that with absolutely no shame.
The last woman to get an exclusive ticker tape parade in this city was Olympic gold medal figure skater Carol Heiss…in 1960. The last time a ticker tape parade even featured a woman was 1998 when Chiaki Mukai was honored along with the rest of the crew of the Space Shuttle Discovery. So for our World Champions? Yeah, it was time.
A few of my favorite pictures from our World Cup victory:
United States’ Abby Wambach holds up the U.S. flag as she celebrates after the U.S. beat Japan 5-2 in the FIFA Women’s World Cup soccer championship in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, Sunday, July 5, 2015. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
And for me, the most beautiful, evocative and emotional photo of the night was this shot of Abby and her wife Sarah sharing a kiss, just like Sydney & Dom, Alex & Servando, etc. and knowing that everyone in our country is now free to legally marry the person they love. At my pub, we all burst in to cheers (and more than a few tears) when this happened. America has made me proud in more ways than one in the last couple of weeks.
I hope you have enjoyed the month we spent focusing on all the incredible women and this fantastic World Cup. Thank you so much to our watishista correspondents who worked so hard to cover the tournament: hopechaser, ForzaSusan, mygypsyspirit, Katie Ann and Mandi. And I must especially thank hopechaser who was our MVP, hands down. Not only did she cover matches, she found fantastic human interest stories to share and all the while, she was also volunteering at the Women’s World Cup and putting in long hours to make sure that the tournament was successful. You are one amazing lady! Actually, they ALL are. I’m lucky to have them in my corner and that they are so willing to share their talents with us. Thank you from the bottom of my heart – love you!
Three cheers for the watishista correspondents!
xo Lozil
Of Headbands and Heartbreak
watishistacorrespondents
Of Headbands and Heartbreak... 
And working full-time! (I’m a masochist, yes). Believe me, volunteering was easy because of the local organizing committee and the other volunteers. Someday I may write about it all.
Was it your office that had the “Girl Power” banners in the windows?
Always a pleasure to write here! So awesome that you got to see the parade, and cheer/dance/cry for our champions!