Welcome back! And now for part 2. I have had some wonderful travel experiences in my lifetime. I’m sure they are not unique to many, yet I know they are foreign to some. I have been to Vegas (not a fan) and to Hawaii (a big fan). I have crossed the Golden Gate Bridge, been to the top of the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, and have visited the Grand Canyon – even before taking up residency in Arizona. I have been to Disney World in Orlando, the Alamo in San Antonio, and have seen both the cracked Liberty Bell and bronze Rocky Balboa statue in Philadelphia.

I have seen a Broadway play in New York City, as well as the Radio City Rockettes’ Christmas Spectacular. I have been to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. I have attended concerts galore. From the soothing sounds of Neil Diamond and Air Supply to the in your face music of Korn, Megadeth, and Motley Crue. I have felt the Holy Spirit’s presence at concerts given by Bride, Stryper, and Thousand Foot Krutch. And I have been mesmerized, on two separate occasions, while watching the eccentric Prince perform his electric one-of-a-kind show on stage.

I have also been mesmerized while out to sea. I have been on a Caribbean cruise, and seeing nothing but water in every direction is a sight to behold. There were many excursions offered at the various ports along the way, so I have gone horseback riding, parasailing, snorkeling, and even experienced SNUBA. SNUBA is a combination of snorkeling and SCUBA diving which allows for divers to go 20 ft below the surface without having to lug around any heavy equipment. The air tanks stay aboard the boat, directly above the ocean explorers.

I have been first in line whenever a unique experience has presented itself. As a self-professed thrill-seeker, I have gone ziplining through the redwoods of California and skydiving at the world’s largest skydiving center in Eloy, Arizona. I know there are some who would not entertain the idea of jumping out of a perfectly safe plane, but my son is not one of them. He followed in his father’s footsteps a few years later when he became of age. My wife, on the other hand, has no desire to take the thrilling plunge, but she was there in support of me (on solid ground) when I did the deed. I left her a love letter – just in case, before boarding the plane. It was not to be opened unless I met my ultimate demise. Well, I’m still here, but the missus read the letter soon after takeoff. Women.

I have been to a Super Bowl. Shortly after our move to Arizona, our beloved Cardinals earned a trip to Super Bowl XLIII. Although the Cardinals were severe underdogs, with Kurt Warner at the helm anything seemed possible. Our home team came up a wee bit short in the end, but attending an event of that magnitude was still probably worth the pain of the loss. We just about had to take out a second mortgage to afford the extravagant sporting event.

I have also attended numerous college football games, a few collegiate basketball games, and one college baseball game (again, Go Sun Devils!). I have seen a few professional baseball games in my lifetime as well. Of course, I have been to a Diamondbacks game. Also two St. Louis Cardinals games when my beautiful newlywed and I were on our honeymoon in 1987. When she agreed to go to the games, I knew she was a keeper. In fact, she chose the Cardinals’ second baseman, Tommy Herr, as her favorite player. She thought he was pretty good-looking. I didn’t mind too much because he had long permed hair just like me.

But my first Major League Baseball game was when I was 14 years-old in 1980. My extended family took the “Blue Goose” ( what seemed to me to be a retired Greyhound bus) to a Kansas City Royals game. This was the year when George Brett was flirting with the elusive .400 batting average for most of the season. I was so excited to see the future Hall of Famer in action, but to my dismay George did not play in the game that day. I had the pleasure of watching Dave Chalk at third base instead of one of my baseball idols. It just wasn’t the same, but it was my first MLB game, so I did enjoy the experience nonetheless.

I have also been to a Harlem Globetrotters basketball game. This was in the good ol’ days when the team’s main stars were Curly Neal and Meadowlark Lemon – and no girls were allowed. Did I just write that? I believe the Globetrotters actually lost that evening to their traveling rivals, the Washington Generals. I suppose the favorite team had to lose once in a while to give the illusion that the game was a genuine competition and not rigged. The night was special regardless of the game’s outcome because it was one on one time with my father. And that was a little hard to come by with my three siblings also vying for my parents’ attention in our 750 sq ft home.

It may seem as though I have been boasting about my life, but that was not my intention. Bragging is for the Facebook and other social media platforms. Although I personally have no desire to go viral, be a social media influencer, or an attention whore. It’s just when one takes the time to reflect on his years – and in my case there’s been many – there can be a lot to uncover. I am not blind to the fact I have been blessed beyond measure to have experienced all that I have. I guess what we have here is my autobiography in a nutshell.