I don't know about you, but I barely could handle the suspense yesterday: Would Boston get the convention nod or not?

It was like the Winona verdict watch all over again, only more tense. As invested as I am in Winona, this time it was personal: a decision that was going to hit me - us - literally where we live.

And now we know! The Democrats are coming. And to think it cost us only $49.5 million to lure them here.

Or maybe it wasn't the money at all. Maybe they were seduced by the clever state slogan now under consideration: ``Massachusetts. Make It Yours.''

I imagine Menino and our two senators are elated, but landing the convention is not just good news for the pols, it's great for us little guys, too.

Think of it: 35,000 new friends streaming into town, sharing our highways, hailing our cabs, pulling into our parking spots, enjoying our restaurants, taking the seats on our very T.

We're talking Al Gore on a Duck Tour, or waiting in line at the Faneuil Hall Cheers to buy a T-shirt and pose for a picture with the bartender. Tom Daschle hitting J.J. Foley's to hoist one with the regulars, and joke late into the night. Joe Lieberman on the Freedom Trail.

Yes, it's going to be party time around here in the summer of 2004.

(Note to self: Book place on Cape for week of July 26.)

Whenever I hear news like this (or any news, for that matter), I have one thought, and one only: What's in it for me?

In this case, the answer is money, or at least I hope it is. The moment the white puff of smoke rose from D.C. (the site advisory committee members were just experimenting; they didn't inhale), I started making plans to rent out my home for an exorbitant and unfair price to some out-of-towners, preferably some Midwest delegates who will be charmed by the authentic ``olde towne'' feel of my apartment, and overlook the lack of ``modern amenities.''

(Note to self and family: Let's start picking up those Bob the Builder trucks and Lego pieces now, because as we all know, a tidy home is a rentable home.)

Another plan I'm working on involves developing a very strong Boston accent, donning period clothes (and I'm not talking the '80s) and setting myself up as an old-time Bostonian, a real character, ready to be interviewed by Diane Sawyer or Katie Couric.

I just hope the news is real and I'm not just dreaming. Having lived in Boston my entire ``adult'' life, I've become sort of used to, well, losing.

But not this time. It really is true. We beat out Detroit, Miami and even our old nemesis, New York. Hey, maybe our luck is changing.

Bambino, think about it.