Truly transcendent sitcoms are rare. The Andy Griffith Show, I Love Lucy, The Brady Bunch, Cheers, The Cosby Show, Seinfeld, Friends, Scrubs, Whitney and Two Broke Girls are a few that top the list… ok definitely not those last two, just making sure you were still paying attention. But over the past nine years, How I Met Your Mother has been able to become one of those enduring shows because of its ability to authentically connect with its audience.

As the Washington Post points out from the Superbowl episode, Ted perfectly captures the series when he says “Because sometimes, even if you know how something’s gonna end, that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the ride.” We’ve known all along that this would be the moment, after nine seasons, that Ted meets his wife, but more importantly it’s been about how he got there.

While some of the major hooks of the show revolve around its witty banter, clever catch phrases, recurring jokes, and stellar guest stars (Glamour Magazine compiled a complete list of every phrase coined from the show), the core of the show has always focused on Ted’s evolution and journey to finding his one true love. Sure, audiences may have grown weary over the years with his quirks, his sappiness, and what totaled 39 different women on the show, but his evolution has finally come full circle.

For me, the show has paralleled so many elements of my own journey through life as a young professional, loss of family, career uncertainty, being tested through close friendships, loss of family, breakups, countless futile crushes, and also that unwavering hopeless romantic belief that despite failing over and over to find love, eventually it’ll all sort itself out. Ted may be whiny, arrogant, douchey and hopeless at times, but we’ve all been there, we’ve all been Ted in some way or another, and I for one, am ready for Ted to meet his redemption.

A few things we likely know will happen during tonight’s How I Met Your Mother Series Finale:

Ted will finally meet the Mother.

Ted will not end up in Chicago but rather stay in New York.

A flashback of some sort.

Even more cameos.

Some sort of Star Wars reference.

More on Marshall and Lily’s move to Rome.

An appearance from La Vie en Rose.

The mother is NOT dead… or is she?

I will bawl my eyes out.

It being Legend… you-now-only-have-a-5-or-so-hour-wait-for-it-till-the-conclusion… Dary… Legendary. (The Vulture compiled every time Barney says wait for it)

A few things we might see in tonight’s conclusion:

Robin Sparkles.

A bro-code reference.

Ted and Robin saluting after using a captain/major/admiral term as part of a sentence.

Someone getting “lawyered”.

Barney gets a high five.

What actually happened with the Pineapple incident.

A cameo by the ducky tie?

Barney accepting one last challenge?

How the mother gets the yellow umbrella again.

An appearance from the red cowboy boots.

Whether Ted’s kids have died from sitting on that couch for the entire story.

Things that likely won’t happen but heyyyy you never know:

All of the characters have actually been dead this entire time after landing on a mysterious island with smoke monsters and polar bears…

The voice of Bob Saget reveals that this has actually been an alternate reality spinoff of Full House.

Or better yet, Wayne Brady reveals the show has actually been a prequel to Whose Line Is It Anyway? back when the points actually mattered.

Happy HIMYM Finale everyone, I’ll leave you with this gem!