Do You Love Me?

Nachos Grande has given us our new assignment and here is mine:

The assignment is to use this image and write about what comes to mind.

So what does come to mind?

Cincinatti Reds? 
First place?
Hall of Fame?
Safe Call?
Measurement Tool?
John Valentine?
A true baseball card post?

Nope.  None of that.  When I see this image,



 naturally I think of my Baba (Grandmother).  Why on earth would I think of an 82 year old Ukrainian woman when looking at a recent Hall of Famer?  It's the arms. 

When I was a little kid she used to ask me if I loved her.  My patented response was always "Yes!.  This Big!" while holding my arms as far apart as possible.  See for yourself, my Little League Photo.  I too played for the Reds.

The resemblence is uncanny. 

She has supported me in all my sports endeavors and baseball card collecting.  We routinely went to her LCS, The House of Cards, and my stockings were always wrought with packs.  In 1993, she took me to my first major sports card convention and bought me my very first autographed 8x10 of Cal Ripken Jr.  Unfortunately, it is probably a fake.  Regardless, it is proudly mounted in the man cave.

My Baba and Dido are celebrating thier 60th year of marraige this year and I couldn't resist this opportunity to pay homage to our relationship.  If I lose so be it.  Just know you will be breaking an old woman's heart if you do not vote for me.  And we're Catholic, so beware the guilt.

Voting is not live yet, but you can check here tomorrow.