You Can Pinch Me 46 Times And I Still Won't Believe Andy's Gone

Most of us have big families with multiple aunts, uncles, and of course cousins and with this big family comes the many options in having that one brother, sister, or cousin that winds up being your best friend. The Yankee family is comprised of millions of members but for every fan, there's one player that's a best friend. For me, it's Derek Sanderson Jeter but for others it's Andrew Eugene Pettitte. You've spent every waking moment looking at, reading about, and falling in love with Andy. Every season, right before April, you made sure you had enough in your "Yankee Fund" account to see Andy pitch in person. Thing seemed good until the day your best friend broke your heart. Today, February 3, 2011, Andrew Pettitte shattered the hearts of his many best friends by announcing his retirement from baseball.

If you're like me, you still haven't fully comprehended the fact that Andy won't be in pinstripes this season. You won't hear that Southern gentleman's accent, you won't pierce into those big brown warming pools called his eyes. Funny thing about those eyes is that one minute they're calming and the next they are sending sharp pains to your heart...they're deadly. Every movement, every sound, every smile, every curse word that encompassed Andy will be leaving the Bronx and permanently settling in Texas. I want to scream, I want to cry, I want to be supportive but the separation is too real and too much to bear right now. So fans, where do we go from here? How do we cope?  Moreover, how do we prepare for his press conference tomorrow?  The answers to those questions aren't so cut and dry and I haven't thoroughly answered these for myself. I do have something in the form of bullets for what we can all do. Want to hear/read them? I know you want to.

The season is nearly a month away and the Yankees have to continue to uphold the principles of perseverance and excellence which means to crumble now will be bad business. As an Economist, personal issues take a back seat to remaining in the black every quarter. They can grieve Andy's retirement but they have to play the balancing act with being excited over new prospects and keeping current players happy. There's a lot on the emotional plate of the Yankees right now and God only knows what the owners are really thinking behind closed doors. As I re-read what I just wrote, I'm a little glad that we fans aren't the organization so to speak but just an extension of it. We can all grab our Kleenex tissues and cry because our best friend has packed up and shipped out.

Call me crazy but I only used my Kleenex for roughly 5 minutes because I don't want to mourn his retirement but celebrate the 16 years he gave us. Call me crazy guys but I think this is how we have to cope with the situation. Dwelling in the sorrow only makes us sadder and speeds up the aging process. When you replay the last 16 years, that should overshadow 24 hours of bad news. Also, are we really that selfish? We were the best friend, brother, father, mother, and sometimes wife to a man who legitimately had all of those members to love and be loved back from.  It hit me today that for 16 years we all cherished a man who left his wife and 4 children in Texas to make me smile. We played the "mistress" to a man who wore a wedding ring and said his vows before God while his children spent birthdays, parent teach conferences, and school plays wishing their father was home and not entertaining thousands each night. That is purely unacceptable so once again call me crazy but I'm kind of glad Andy has decided to step out of the spotlight.

As we all watch the press conference tomorrow, I hope we can learn to value what's truly important in life. Ok ok so it won't be easy watching Dandy Andy say his goodbyes but we're classy folks and after all he's done for us, the least we can do is watch, cry a little, and applaud his being. I'm going to miss you Andy but I'll feel a little easier knowing that 4 children have their father again and a wife has her husband to hold and yell at for not cleaning the dishes. Andrew Eugene Pettitte, born June 15, 1972 in Baton Rouge, Lousiana, I wish you nothing but the best. Y'all come back now and visit us up here North sometimes....it'll do us crazed Yankee fans some good.

XOXO,
Whitney