It's the week of Thanksgiving, and my thoughts are about family, friends, and lots and lots of food. While listing everything in this world that I am thankful for, baseball finds itself below a lot more important things in my life. However, baseball is very important to me, and I am thankful to have it play such a prominent role in my life. It can't measure up, though, to how thankful I am for my family, my friends, the ones I love, my health, and shelter, just to name a few. However, I thought it would be a good post, as we all gather round and give thanks, to list what in my baseball world I am thankful for.
I think I have to start with my basic geography here in Southern California. From here in Highland, I have access to so much baseball within a day's drive of me. I have utilized my location to expand my baseball horizons to places as exotic as Palm Springs and the High Desert to urban metropolises in Los Angeles and Phoenix. It seems like every week I discover something new and exciting here that opens my eyes to a new world of baseball and experiences. I think this blog is indicative of how Baseball Road Trips have been transformed into a year-round activity with adventures scheduled for every month of the year. It gives me such excitement and anticipation seeing them planned on my calendar.
My location in this area has given rise to my burgeoning allegiance and fandom for the Angels. It's hard to believe that all those years living in Oregon never saw me hook on to a particular team. Sure, I had the Mariners, but I really couldn't identify with them as much as I can the Angels. Heck, it's even gotten to the point where I'm now going on Baseball Road Trips just to see them play. I ended up going to fourteen games at the Big A this past season, and every single one was memorable and enjoyable. I was lucky to be able to bring my girlfriend, my brother, and my mother and father to a game this year. In fact, I think I was able to convince my brother to become a fan himself after doing the Beach and Angel game circuit when he was here.
No conversation about going to Angels game can omit my bike rides. I haven't actually gone through and done the math, but I am confident in saying that I pedaled over 100 miles on the bike on Baseball Road Trips. My travels took me all across the country in areas that I would never have thought I could bike to and around. Pedaling around in the urban areas gives me a rush unlike anything other. I get such an adrenaline rush with the wind blowing your face, the sounds of the cities, and the feeling of claustrophobia around the skyscrapers, buses, subways, and pedestrians. Now that I have discovered bike share, my passion can be extended far and wide across the country to pretty much any place I want to go. It's just, flat-out, exciting.
With all of the planning and imagining that I do on my spare time about far-flung baseball adventures, I have to sometimes stop and remind myself of how thankful I am to have a team here, locally, that I very much enjoy going to. The Inland Empire 66ers put out a great product of entertainment, not just good baseball. The organization does a great job with their promotions and operations. And, I can't forget about Bernie. I mean, where else can I get the opportunity to poke fun at a mascot? Sure, the season was a disappointment in the fact that the 66ers didn't make the playoffs, but it was fun watching the team grow from the Backfields in Tempe to Opening Day through the 66ers Road Trips, and finally to the bitter end.
This is the season fro gratefulness and humility. I think my final statement is that I am thankful to all of you, my fans, friends, colleagues, and readers. I have so enjoyed our company together and the worlds we have traveled to. Yes, you're just a part of my travels as I am. I can't tell you just how thankful I am for all of your kind words, ideas, camaraderie, and just reading. I'm hoping that we have many more adventures together in the future!
I really am focusing on spending time with my loved ones during this Thanksgiving season. Baseball will take a backseat for the weekend. However, I'm planning on doing my yearly tradition of a Baseball Movie Marathon the weekend after, so the game won't be that far off.
Have a Happy Thanksgiving!
Always take on a 3-0 pitch ;)
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