Wednesday, December 7, was the anniversary of a date that will live in infamy. Yes, Pearl Harbor, but also mine and Robert’s ninth wedding anniversary. Seriously – where has the time gone? I’m so lucky to have fallen in love with and married my best friend. I can’t wait to see what the future holds. But looking back on this year, we made a stop where we got engaged in Rocky Mountain National Park:
So that’s the “nine” part of the post, but what’s the “five?”
This week, #5, Albert Pujols, decided to say goodbye to the St. Louis Cardinals, where fans thought he’d stay for the remainder of his career. Shock, anger, frustration, disappointment were all emotions tossed around when the news broke. I don’t blame Albert for making the best deal he could; that’s his decision. People have argued about “how much money can you spend,” but I personally would like to believe that the bulk of his contract will help fund his foundation and do a lot of good for a lot of people. And frankly, Albert’s salary is none of our business. I admire him as a person and a ball player, but I’m a St. Louis Cardinals fan first and foremost. And the Cardinals management made the right decision for the team, in not allowing one person to dictate the future.
The Cardinals were a historic team long before Albert, and they will be long after him. The Cardinals fans are the best in baseball, and will still show Albert respect should we meet him again. Albert’s move to the American League may afford him the opportunities to break multiple records, but at what cost? He’ll never be able to equal the greatest Cardinal of all time – Stan Musial (whom, by the way, my great-nephew is named after).
Commitment. Loyalty. Sacrifice. Love.
Who would have thought that those words applied to baseball as much as they do marriage?
Well said.