Roadtrip!

Memorable events from this weekend's trip to my son's baseball tournament in Des Moines, Iowa.

• Following the NFL draft on a patchwork of AM radio stations for the 4 1/2 hour trip.
• Talking religion and politics with my wife's Aunt and Uncle until midnight. Time flies when you're discussing taboo topics.
• Eating Uncle Ed's fantastic pancakes and eggs. That man can cook!
• Taking a line-drive foul ball in the jaw. Ouch.
• Watching Liam's team nearly complete a valiant comeback in the championship game after being down 6-0 in the 1st inning.
• Seeing cousin Elizabeth (who I've known since she was 1 month old) in her prom dress. Dang, I felt old.
• Listening to Liam sing along to a Chris Tomlin song as we had "church" on the Sunday morning drive to the diamonds. Cool moment.
• Spending the first of several baseball-filled weekends with fun families on Liam's team. Fun parents, cute kids.
• Staying awake for the first two hours of the drive home due primarily to caffeine and intense facial sunburn pain.  I forgot that it's still possible to get fried when it's only 60 degrees.
• Hearing the news that Osama Bin Ladin was dead. What a strange mix of emotions. I was driving through southern Minnesota and tuned in to various radio stations for two hours listen to the details roll out. Will this be another "Where were you when..." moment?