In August of 2000, I took a road trip out east with my childhood friend Ken. We stopped in Pittsburgh and Baltimore. Both of us were avid baseball fans, and we wanted to see the ballparks in both cities. There was no game in Pittsburgh on the day we were there, but we took a tour of the field. Quite impressive, to say the least! In Baltimore, we got to see my beloved White Sox take on Baltimore's Orioles. Despite seeing the Orioles win, I had a great time. This was my first time seeing a baseball game in another city and state. My previous games had been in Chicago, at Wrigley Field or Comiskey Park. I thought seeing different ballparks in different cities would be so cool. I knew that it would take some time, but I wanted to do it. Over the next twelve years, I was able to visit every Major League Baseball city and take in a game. I took my share of pictures and collected enough souvenirs to remember each trip vividly, but I also found that I learned a valuable lesson over the course of my journeys:

Nothing is more important than family and friends.

Some of my trips were solo, but on others, I was joined by either my father, my mother, or my brother. These trips became more than just baseball trips. We took in historical sites in each city, visited some unique establishments, and met some fun and interesting people. We bonded in such a special way. We became closer. The enjoyment of spending time with each other was second to none, and I would never trade that experience for anything. My parents became more than my parents. My brother became more than my brother. They became my friends. Nothing is more important than family and friends. I learned to appreciate such a lesson through my enjoyment of baseball.

Over the last three years, Ken and I resumed our baseball road trips, and we have now been joined by his two sons. Seeing the fun I had on my trips, hearing my stories, and seeing my pictures, Ken wanted to have that fun with his boys. I told him the experience was truly special and that he had to do it. I told him to think of the stories and memories they could make. Nothing is more important than family and friends.