You just have to close your eyes and breathe.

I love baseball.  I love the Atlanta Braves.  I grew up towards the end of the horrid 80s years and watched us flourish in the joyous and wonderful 90s years.  When I was finally old enough to fully understand and appreciate the game for what it was, there was only only player for me.  That player was Larry Wayne Jones, Jr, Chipper for short.  

I have been a Braves fan since before I could walk.  I remember watching the games with my dad cheering them on fruitlessly when I was really young.  I remember the worst to first team in ‘91.  I remember the glorious 14 year run of post season appearances.  But, I will never forget the ‘95 season.  The season that introduced us to Chipper Jones.  From the moment he took the field, he became my favorite.  I was 14 years old.  

Over the years I never had to experience what it would be like if my favorite player was no longer on my favorite team.  It was just given that Chipper was going to be at the hot corner of 3rd base.  It was written in stone.  Every year, in the first week of April, Chipper was at his spot at 3rd base, batting 3rd in the lineup, walking into the batters box to “Crazy Train”.  Chipper was Mr. Brave.  He is the Braves.  

Chipper announced he is retiring after this season this week.  I will not say that I didn’t see it coming.  He has played for 23 years, I guess it’s time to hang up his spikes.  And, yes, I cried.  It is the end of an era.

Everyone laughs at me with my fascination with Chipper.  I have been in love with the man since I was 14.  Yes I am a girl, and yes I am a baseball fan.  Sure my fascination started when I but a young teenager, but, it grew into this complete admiration for a man that just simply loved the game.  I got the chance, when I was about 17 years old, to talk to him for a few minutes before a game.  It was the best 10 minutes ever.  He is a class act.  He goes out of his way to talk to, sign, and make the fans happy.  

The first week of April, 2013 will be a very odd time for Braves fans.  Our mainstay will no longer be standing out next to 3rd base, will no longer be hitting 3rd, and will no longer walk into the batters box to “Crazy Train”.  We will have someone else there and there will be a new face of the Braves.  

The final piece that was left of my childhood is crumbling away.  It is a very tough pill to swallow.  

I took this picture last season in the last Mets series.  I actually took this picture on accident.  It was the best accidental picture I have ever taken.(Sept. 18, 2011)