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When the Astros last made it to the playoffs, it was 2005. A barrel of oil cost nearly $63. Brad Pitt was about to leave Jennifer Aniston for Angelina Jolie and hurricanes Rita and Katrina had just hit the Gulf Coast.
“Go Astros,”  Karen Thomas said as she bought postseason Astros t-shirts Monday. She is fired up for the playoffs. 
"It's a big deal because it's been 10  years since they've been in the playoffs so we're excited about it," Thomas said.
A decade ago, Tom Cruise jumped over Oprah’s couch and President George W. Bush was in his second term. Bill White was Houston’s mayor. The times and the shirts have changed.  But fans said it is more than just a game. 
"It's big because we've been waiting 10  years now," said Astros fan, Jaime De La Isla. "I've been waiting these 10 years to renew my attention to the game. It's our identity. It's how we relate to one another.
"Irrespective of what part of town we live in or what our backgrounds are or employed or not employed.  That's not the issue. We all come as one. We are united around our teams."
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