Wanted: New Red Sox Hero
Bad news followed us on our vacation to Cape Cod last week.
In the form of the departure of Manny Ramirez.
From the Boston Red Sox.
Manny was a baseball hero to my almost 10-year-old daughter, known, affectionately in this space as The Girl.
Manny originally replaced Nomar Garciaparra as The Girl’s hero. Garciaparra was The Girl’s first favorite ballplayer when she commenced her career as a Red Sox fan in 2003. However, four years ago, almost to the day, Nomar left the Boston Red Sox mid-season and broke The Girl’s heart. After a period of mourning — during which I bought The Girl a Chicago Cubs/Nomar T-shirt — Manny became her Chosen One, her rebound baseball hero.
“Why does everyone I like leave?” The Girl asked through her sobs after she learned about Manny’s departure when we were at an ice cream shop in downtown Wellfleet. “Why does this have to keep happening?”
Now, several days later, her tears have dried, although she still remains extremely disappointed. She’s now in the market for a new baseball hero from the Olde Town Team. Currently in the running: Mike Lowell, who many people think looks like her dad (a.k.a. — The Spouse).
Image credit: The Boston Red Sox.
Local mom and author Meredith O'Brien gives you a peek behind the picket fences of modern day parenting. With humor and candor, it's her take on real parenting in the real world.
