tran·si·tion

tran·si·tion

   /trænˈzɪʃən, -ˈsɪʃ-/ Show Spelled[tran-zish-uhn, -sish-] Show IPA

noun

movement, passage, or change from one position, state, stage, subject, concept, etc., to another; change: the transition from adolescence to adulthood.

verb (used without object)  

to make a transition: He had difficulty transitioning from enlisted man to officer.

Why is transition so difficult??

For Sooo many reasons!

It's finally the "Off Season" - Baseball is Over!!

So what is so difficult about this transition?  J will finally be home... all the time; So, I hope I love it as much as I did last off season!

• My Best Friend
• Date Nights
• Attention
• Cuddling
• Messy House
• Messy House
• Messy House

Ha- Okay, okay I can deal with a messy place- He's worth it. ;) But it is going to take some getting used to having him around again.  I become so independent during baseball season - So it's important that I remember what it is like to share my life again.

J also has a big transition.  He's used to sleeping in until 2pm and going to the field for batting practice before his 7pm game.  The "Off Season" means J has to find a "real job" - with "real work hours."  Trust me - this is not an easy transition for him.  Needless to say, he will have to get used to living with a girl again, and after living on the road with a bunch of guys - this may not be easy either.

My sister B has the opposite transition - It's the Hockey "In Season"... Until April.  She's learning to deal without M - which isn't easy.  Luckily for B, she has a support team to keep her busy!  Plus, she's looking for her first job out of college!  Lot's of change in that lady's life.  It's time to focus on B, which will be good for her. 

I think through all of the transitions, it's important to think about what's best for you.  Are you happy - and is your boy worth the continuous  change in your life?  In a world that is all about him, it's important to put yourself first too - because without us... their lives wouldn't be half as fun.

Communication

It occurred to me yesterday, while watching the Saints lack of communication on the field - that baseball players do not get paid to communicate.  This is hard for me to understand because I get paid entirely to communicate. 

As the season is coming to a close - there are a lot of mixed emotions for everyone involved: players, families, girlfriends & wives.  Some are burnt out - while others would  like to continue on for months.  I think the hardest aspect of this is being conscientious of other people's feelings - no matter how you are feeling.  I have had my fair share of temper tantrums the last few weeks - but when it comes down to it, I know these next few games are the most important in J's career thus far.  So, I can't help but be excited to go to a few more games and cheer him on!

There is another side to this that makes things difficult as well.  Some of the players have built new relationships over the summer - you know; like one of my all time favorite movies "Summer Catch."  Believe it or not - in the world of minor league baseball - not all players have the story book ending that Freddie Prince Jr. had when he got called up to the MLB.  Most players move back home and go on with their lives - picking up off season jobs and waiting to see what their baseball future holds for the following spring.  This causes another communication disaster.   I am watching some of my friends struggle to know what type of future their new relationship holds -

is it worth holding on to? 

I wish I could hold a communication seminar for the team.  I could teach them how to communicate on the field & off the field.  You know - Please call for the ball if you are in the best position to catch it; oh and more importantly, please tell your significant other how you are feeling about them before you pick up and move away.  - The guys could learn so much! Ha!

Luckily for me - the off season is right around the corner.  This means that J and I will finally be able to communicate on a regular basis!  Believe it or not, this will cause for some transition as well- considering we are used to talking 10 minutes a day.  I will admit that as independent as I am - I'm excited to have J around again. 

Best of luck to the Saints today as they finish off the first round of playoffs and hopefully move forward to the championship round! 

We're fun together!

With the help of the Saint's starting short stop, J, the Saints made playoffs for the first time in 7 years!  Congrats Boys & of course Congrats J!

I'll never forget the call I got from J when the team clinched playoffs.  I don't think he has ever been more excited.  I was in Colorado, on business - and of course was following the game on Twitter (follow me @HansonKaley) - So had already been privately celebrating for the him and the team. 

I will admit this is my first experience with professional baseball playoffs - so, I'm learning as I go.  Luckily for me, the Saints came home for a quick eleven hours before taking off for the first round of playoffs.  I flew in from Colorado during the evening and J picked me up from the airport for one of our first dates together in Months - The Eric Church concert at the Fair!  Not only did we have the greatest time singing all of our favorite songs as loudly as we could together, we skipped the headliner to go on rides!  It's moments like last night that remind me why I fell in love with him during college - We're fun together!

I'm continuing to stay busy with work & friends - It's hard to believe the "Off Season" is coming up so quickly!  What will I do with my boyfriend around again?  I can't wait!

Temptations...

I don't mean to be a chronic blogger, but what is a girl to do when the boys are on the road...

J and I had a conversation last night about temptations... the fact is, there are lots of temptations when it comes to the lifestyle we live.  I think it's so important to be honest & realistic with each other when it comes to these temptations.

I'm not stupid, I see the girls at baseball games hoping for a glimpse of what it would be like to date a baseball player - and the ones who just want to add a baseball player to the number of men they have slept with.  I know I am biased, but I think J's a very good looking guy - and I can only imagine all of the temptations he faces each day.  So it comes down to trust.  Do you trust him on the road?

What about the temptations that you face?  Being a minor league baseball girlfriend can be a lonely lifestyle.  I have learned to be very independent.   But I'll be honest -  I don't complain if a guy goes out of his way to give me attention.  I think that's only natural. 

I think every relationship is different, I know that J and I trust each other - and at the end of the day that's all that matters.  It's important to surround yourself with good people who support you and your relationship.  And make sure to laugh about all of the "classy girls" who do what they can to ruin everything you built together - because if you trust your man, they aren't worth stressing about. 

At the end of the day - Trust yourself  & decide what the best path is for you.  Can you handle this lifestyle?

It's about the little moments

After much discussion with my friends, I have decided to take the plunge and start my very own blog.  I'm just your average 24 year old girl - I met the man of my dreams at college, and dream about getting married, starting a family and growing old together.  The man of my dreams; J, is also living his dream of playing professional baseball for a minor league team near where we live together.  When he was signed with the Saints, I couldn't have been happier - after dating for 4 years, I was worried he would play for a team on the other side of the country, but I was lucky enough to have him home with me!

Everything seems like a fairytale right?  Minor League Girlfriends know there are many ups and downs during the six month season.  It's finally August so the season will be coming to an end soon, but since March - J has been traded twice - which causes so many emotions for him, and for me.  He is finally back at the team he started with - so home with me, but that means I have to share him with everyone!  J is so lucky to have such a strong support team behind him, and when he plays at home, EVERYONE comes to visit - meaning I have to share him - and entertain! 

Last night was a tough night for me - not only were both of our families at his game to support him, but J was taking off after the game for a road trip.  I got a little emotional watching everyone else take their turn talking with J after the game, and waiting patiently for my turn - knowing I would only have a few minutes to talk with him before he left again.  His grandpa turned to me and said "You need to keep supporting J and someday he will be playing for the MLB - and have all the money you could ever ask for & life will be easier."  I couldn't help but say "It's not about the money!"  Any minor league baseball girlfriend knows that you don't support your boyfriend in hopes that he will be a millionaire some day, you support your boyfriend because you love him, and you are happy that he is having the opportunity to follow his dream.  It gets emotional because you miss him - and sometimes crave a normal life, where you both get home from work in the evenings, make dinner together & cuddle in bed.   Minor League Baseball girlfriends sacrifice a lot for their men - and are typically happy to do it!  It's all about the little moments you actually get to spend together and the strong love holding the two of you together that makes it work.

As my second year as a Minor League Baseball girlfriend is coming to a close - I continue to support J & the Saints and wish them the best as they battle on this last road trip to make play offs!  Go Saints!