Jessica Belmosto

Since the hot stove is actually freezing right now, I figured we could take a trip down a memory lane.

Lets take a trip down memory lane. I was eight years old. My eyes were bright and my curls were frizzy. I was wearing my new Normar Garciaparra t shirt. My dad had bought it for me just before I left for vacation with my mom. This was maybe a week after my dad’s birthday.It was an iconic birthday. A-Rod and Varitek had fought it out and I was falling even more in love with the Red Sox. Little did I know, I was about to have my heart ripped out.

I will never forget this day. It was my first family vacation with Mom’s new boyfriend. We rented a cottage in New Hampshire for the last week of July. We were hanging out at the beach and spending time on the boardwalk. The long days were ended with trips to the local ice cream shop. Nothing tasted sweeter than Cookie Monster ice cream. We weren’t caught up in snapchatting and live tweeting our days. There was nothing getting in between us and pure fun.

However, there was something in the way that my young mind was not able to comprehend. The Major League Baseball trade deadline.  At the time, I had no idea what rumors were circulating or what was even happening. There were no push notifications letting me know who was dealt where. Just like every other day of this vacation, I was wearing my Nomar shersey. We had come back after a day of fun and my mom turned on the tv. My heart stopped and tears welled up in my eyes. My theatrical ass had just found out that Nomar Garciaparra, king of my heart, had just been traded. I was on the floor crying my eyes out. This was just three days, THREE DAYS after my dad got me a t shirt. I was inconsolable. My poor mom was rubbing my back and telling me it’d be okay. What the hell are you supposed to tell someone in a time of grief? I’m sorry for your loss only goes so far.

It’s been thirteen years and I remember that day like it was yesterday. I wore that t shirt until it was faded. It didn’t matter that he was on the Cubs. Normar always going to be our shortstop. The only heartbreak I’ve ever experienced is the Nomar trade. I hope I never find myself crying on the floor over a guy, ever. again.