Houston Strong.

Because my aunt and uncle lived in Houston, I spent many holidays there. We'd visit most summers, too, spending a day at Galveston or Astroworld. And on more than a couple of occasions, we would head to the Astrodome to watch some baseball.

The Astros have never been "my" team—I'm a Rangers girl, after all—but I have always had a special place in my heart for the team with the groovy candy-corn-striped uniforms. 

This has been an exceptionally tough year for Houston. Hurricane Harvey caused unprecedented flooding, and this is on the heels of the Memorial Day 2015 and the Tax Day 2016 floods. My aunt's house was under feet of water in both of those disasters. She restored her home after the first, but when everything was destroyed less than a year later, she opted to move to higher ground. She is quick to say how blessed she is: that she had her daughter's house nearby for her temporary residence, that she had the means to move to a retirement community. She's also thankful she got out before Harvey struck. But for so many, recovery has not been so quick. Life has yet to return to normal. 

Tonight, the Houston Astros are World Series champions. I know this doesn't fix everything, but I also know this title, not to mention memories of this remarkable seven-game series, will bring some light to the darkness. 

Congrats, 'Stros.