The meaning of #WeAllBleedBlue

I'm feeling a bit homesick today so I figured I'd focus my sadness back to happy STL thoughts. Right now, the obvious, the St. Louis Blues.

St. Louis Blues full time employees enjoying a trip to Boston for game 1 of the Stanley Cup final. (Photo from stlouisblues Instagram)

Last week as I was driving through town, taking in the sights, I couldn't help but smile because EVERYWHERE I went, no matter how far north or south, east or west there was an infectious spirit for the St. Louis Blues.

'Let's Go Blues' flags waving in the wind, hung up on fences, tacked to the sides of buildings. It's as though a Blues breakout had hit the town and I hope it never leaves.

Everything leading up to the team making it to the Stanley Cup finals had STL fans in a good mood. It got me thinking, what does it mean to "Bleed Blue?"

Whether you are driving and listening to a straight 24 hours of Laura Branigan's 'Gloria' on Y98 or walking into a grocery store where all the employees are wearing blue, everyone has a personal connection, or ten, to "We All Bleed Blue."

I think the first time I most strongly felt the hometown spirit was the first time Y98 played 'Gloria' for an entire day on repeat. My heartbeat was keeping pace to song and a every time it started back over I had to laugh. It never got old. It just re-pumped me up for the games ahead.

It could be college graduates decorating their caps with a clear reminder of the Blues game later that same night (so let's speed graduation festivities up). Wedding parties dressed in the blue, yellow, navy blue and whites colors.

Residents painting the blue note in their front yard for passerby's to see or local businesses painting sidewalks outside with the notes, LGB and more.

It could be the great dog parents dressing their fur babies in jersey's and bandanas to show spirit. It's Sunny, the TODAY Show puppy showing up to games making the fans happy.

It's the St. Louis Cardinals showing support by attending Blues games and visa versa.

Maybe it's thousands of fans singing John Denver's 'Country Roads' in unison during the third period at home games.

It's fans driving 885 miles or 14 hours to the Philadelphia bar where 'Play Gloria' started.

It's a whole town rallying around a young girl who battled cancer, survived and attended playoff games. Laila's spirit itself is a picture perfect definition of how STL bleeds blue.

These are just a few of the ways I have witnessed STL live up to the hashtag.

However YOU "bleed blue," the camaraderie among St. Louis sports fans, and beyond has been something I haven't felt since game 6 of the World Series with the Cardinals and Rangers.

Keep showing up, wherever you may be, and supporting because this team has rattled the hockey world and shown what underdogs can do.

Shouting it loud and proud from Kansas City, LET'S GO BLUES! #WeAllBleedBlue