The Cat’s Out of The Bag

It’s been difficult, let me tell you.

I was told to keep it hush-hush, on the down-low if you know what I mean. I kept my part of the bargain and didn’t say a word, but it was difficult. It was a long 10 weeks and my excitement only made if feel longer because once we – yours truly and The Powers That Be – finalized the deal, I wanted to say something so badly right then that I felt like I was going to bust. I wanted to let everyone I know in on the news and I wanted to let the world know, but I didn’t want to nix the deal, torpedo it if you know what I mean. No one representing The Powers That Be contacted me and I counted the days and drowned the urge to talk with Oreo cookies and pizza and held my tongue. But then I was driving by Target Field at 1 Twins Way this foggy and icy morning and I’m stopped at the light and I look up and what did I see up there on the 23½ ton jumbo screen, shining in all its 57 feet by 101 feet brilliance like a beacon of hope and salvation in the pre-dawn dark of Minneapolis for everyone to see but the news I’d sworn 10 weeks ago to keep secret. The team – my team – had finally released the information to the world and I was free! I could let everyone know the good news! Feeling the weight of a thousand kept secrets rise from my shoulders and choked with emotion I felt a tear form in the corner of my left eye as I grabbed for my camera to snap the picture you see below. Not just for my soon-to-be-filled-with-wonderful-memories scrapbook, but to share my joy and happiness with the world and you all.

Well, I’d better quit writing now and go get packed for Florida. I’ve only got, let’s see… 18 days to go until Spring Training starts and I’ve got a team to whip into shape and a World Series to win.