A Higher Calling

Hello again!

I just got back from a very, relaxing trip up to Portland to see the Beavers play the Bees of Salt Lake. Portland lost 4-2 after surrendering three runs in the sixth inning after back-to-back triples.

When I first decided to create this blog, I was going to operate under the assumption that this would be strictly about baseball. As the title of this blog entails, it is a chronicle of my travels across the country going to games. But, especially lately, this blog has become a real echo of what is going on in my life. This is a great way for me to tell you all my thoughts while being able to express them with regards to baseball.

There has been a lot of crap that has been going on in my life. These last twelve months have been especially difficult for me. I know it seems trivial in the broad scheme of things, but I have had a lot of misfortune socially, athletically, spiritually, and educationally. I take solace in the fact that this sport of baseball has always been there for me. Whenever I was feeling bad, I would just think about the game of baseball and it would almost instantaneously make me feel better.

Do I consider baseball a religion? Yes. I do. I preach to the Gods of Ruth, Gehrig, Musial, DiMaggio, and Mantle. My cathedrals are the ballparks. My baseball roadtrips are simply me acting as a traveling parishioner. This trip up to Portland allowed me to clear my mind, focus on the present, and plan for the future. This passion of mine has become more than just a hobby, it has become almost therapy to the hustle and bustle that which is my life.

I apologize if I went on a little bit of a sermon there, but I felt that it needed to be done. Anyways, the next ten days are going to be very exciting for me. First, I am quickly approaching a milestone. On Monday, July 27, 2009, I will attend my 150th baseball game. I started keeping a logbook of all the games I have been to back in 2007, and it will be the 150th time I have sat in the stands and watched a professional baseball game. Stunning? Yeah, I'd think that.

The next day, my bro and I head off for North Carolina. Just a reminder for all of you, I will be seeing games in Greensboro, Burlington, Zebulon, and Durham.

I will throw in a short update after 150 and then hold off until North Carolina.

Always take on a 3-0 pitch ;)