Farewell Employee #11

Ryan Zimmerman has been a big part of our lives here in DC, particularly Owen's.  From the early days of seeing him play at RFK, going as him for Halloween,  meeting him in-person at the opening of Ryan Zimmerman Field, celebrating birthdays with him (in theory), to the more recent experience of seeing him lead the Nationals to their Game 5 win of the NLCS championship and eventually winning the 2019 World Series, we've shared a lot of special moments with Ryan Zimmerman (as well as a name).

When he announced his retirement, we were a little sad. But when they announced they were retiring his number, well that just meant there was one more experience that Allen and Owen needed to share with him.

Friday night was "Employee #11" t-shirt night as well as an interview with Ryan Zimmerman and his former teammates: Jayson Werth, Ian Desmond, Danny Espinoza, and Adam LaRoche, so Allen picked up Owen from school and went directly to the game to make sure they got their t-shirts, heard the interview, and even had dinner at Red Porch. It was a great game with the Phillies, until former National Bryce Harper hit a 2RBI double that tied up the game, resulting in extra innings that led to a terrible call culminating in a National loss.

Saturday was the official retirement ceremony, so Mom Mom and Grandpa Don joined Owen and Allen. It was a beautiful, tear-jerker of a celebration, though the game was  a bit of a repeat of the previous night (the Nats lost to the Phillies in extra innings). Still, in the words of Ryan Zimmerman,

It was one hell of a ride we had together and I can honestly say I wouldn't change a thing.

Us too, #11, us too. 

(To see all of our Ryan Zimmerman's retirement photos, click here.)