After 18 years, it's mine

When you're an adult, you can do things that you couldn't when you were a kid. You can eat eat cookies for dinner. You don't have to eat your veggies or brush your teeth, although both are recommended. You can also buy things that you might not have been able to as a kid.

That's part of the allure of being an adult when you're a kid. Mom won't buy me a pack of cards? Fine, when I'm grown up I'll buy as many packs as I want!

Rarely does it work like that. Bills, mortage, student loans, kids, etc. make sure of that. But don't tell me that when I'm 12. Let me dream that I'll have all the money in the world to spend on foolish things.

When 1997 Donruss Signature came out, I remember seeing pictures of the cards in Beckett and vowing to one day own one. When I saw that Tino was in the set with an on-card autograph (his first, I believe), I needed one. Little did I know I wouldn't get one until 2015, but alas, I finally own this:

I can't buy all the cards I want. Far from it. However, I had some money in my paypal account from a few sales, and was able to fund this card 100%. I don't feel bad about that. I lost on a couple of auctions before landing this one.

I was thrilled when it came. It lived up to everything I thought it would. I really felt like I was holding a piece of my card-collecting history, and I hope I made 12-year-old me proud that I stuck to my promise of owning this card.

It'll take a place with some of my most special Tinos in my collection.