"What You See is What You Get."

What you see is what you get. Those words came out of Brett Favre's mouth during his farewell press conference. I love that about him. "I thought about wearing a suit, I really did." hehe...that's our QB! Sorry. That was our QB. My tv had a ticker tape running along the bottom with little snippets of information: My favorite was the one that said, "Favre had a lifelong contract with the Packers." Tell me when the last time you heard of a professional athlete having a LIFELONG contract with his team. Man, I can't believe how many tears I've cried over this event. Really, I thought I'd shed a few sentimental tears. I didn't know I would be weeping over sports writers' articles and crying during Brett's farewell press conference and getting choked up watching his Top 10 plays and.... crying now.

And I've been more realistic and accepting of this news since it broke than most of the people I know. Still, hearing it from the man himself brings a finality, a reality. I loved that he got weepy. If he'd have flown up here to announce that he was leaving us without emotion, I would feel ripped off. Had he sauntered in, made his speech, and gone, I would've felt used, like we meant nothing in the scheme of his career...his life. I've never met Brett Favre, but I feel like I know his character. Being true to himself is important. His tears today were important. Non-Packer fans have told me that Brett Favre is a big baby. He's not. He's a real man. He's leaving something he's known his whole life. There will be no football practice, no meetings, no Sunday games. This is huge. This is emotional. I'm so glad he shared that part of retirement with us in his press conference to say goodbye. No wonder he's my hero.

I don't want him to go. I don't. I never want him to go. But I understand why he is going. I am happy for him that he can finally kick back and enjoy a normal life!! He's earned this a thousand times over, given the football fans more than they could have hoped for, ever. What a joy to watch...a blessing to call our own. I stand in awe of him. I have said in other blogs that it is not just what Brett Favre does on the football field that makes him a great hero. He truly is what you see and what you get. I love that he's going out on his own terms--on top. May whatever he sees in the rearview mirror bring a smile and whatever he sees through the front windshield be joyful. He deserves a rich, blessed retirement.

I have a feeling these weepy tears that are sneaking up on me will continue for awhile. I'm tough...I'll get through the disappointment just like the rest of the Packer Nation has to do. However, Brett Favre carved out a piece of everyone's heart with his emotional, wild, brilliant, crazy, fun antics as a Green Bay Packer. It's not likely that we are going to forget these years, ever. In fact, some of my coworkers have never really known another Packer quarterback. Wow. On Tuesday one of the guys at work walked in with his #4 Atlanta jersey on. Another coworker complimented him on his attire. The guy with the jersey said, "Dude! I laid in bed all day watching ESPN!" On my way to work on Tuesday night, a guy pulled up next to me at a stoplight. I looked over at him, and knew he noticed my Packer license plate. His look said, "I'm so sorry, you must be hurting a great deal right now. Me too." I have to guess that my look back said, "I know. What are ya gonna do?" I'm not sure people who don't live here understand all of this, but that's okay. Call us crazy.

It's tough to say goodbye to Brett Favre, Iron Man. If I was allowed one minute to tell him anything I wanted to, I don't know what I'd say. "Thank you" is the only thing that comes to mind. Anything I might come up with would be inadequate to express the great emotion I feel about his role in our community, the Packer organization, my life. He remains my hero. I would want to assure him that his records aren't what people will remember about him. The fun he brought to the game of football is hard to describe, impossible to replace. He is one of a kind. I take my hat off to him for the great career and wish him, Deanna, and their families a wealth of love and happiness. Thank you for allowing us to laugh with you, cry with you, cheer with you. We will applaud your place in our history forever. Goodbye, Brett. You will be missed at Lambeau, but not forgotten.