Back Where it All Began

This last week I was able to spend some time in Arizona with Steven while he played in the Arizona Fall League. This was my first trip back Southwest since moving in May. While I was there I met up with old friends and helped my former roommate move into her first house. I got to see Steven pitch a few times and added another ballpark to the list of places I've been. I loved the sunshine, pool time, and the familiar feel of Arizona. I realized that while baseball is sure to take us all around the US, I will always feel a little at home in Arizona and look forward to whatever time we get to spend there because that’s where it all started.

I graduated from college in 2008 and had a job lined up in Avondale, AZ. Another girl from my hometown had a job lined up as well so we decided to live together without really knowing each other too well. I don't think either of us would've guessed what that year together would hold but I definitely made some of the best memories of my life. This is where Steven comes in. Our group of girls liked to go out on the weekends to the Westgate area, particularly Margaritaville. There were always live bands and the crowd was usually a little older so we could kind of let our guard down and dance. In early January we were doing our usual weekend routine when a certain baseball player was sent to Arizona and for whatever reason, ventured to Margaritaville. It took a long time between meeting Steven that night and the point where we started dating. We were friends and I would do his laundry while he'd beat me in Wii Sports. When spring training ended and he left for Clinton, IA I realized that I really liked him but he was definitely not ready to settle down in any way. We stayed in touch and when he was moved to California and I took the opportunity to visit him a few times. It was during those visits that I first really fell in love with him. I always tell him that I loved him before he even knew it, and it’s true. Luckily I was smart enough to know if I told him how I felt or pushed a "relationship" he'd be out the door, timing was everything. We continued to keep in touch after the season and when he was back again for spring training I decided it was time to kick it up a notch. If there is one thing you need to know about Steven it is that he WILL NOT doing anything unless HE wants to. This meant more waiting for me because he was not going to make me his girlfriend until he wanted to. Eventually he either gave in or just realized what a great catch I was and we started dating. Like any baseball couple, dating meant seeing each other for a week then not seeing each other for a month. During the summer I traveled to see him and he was able to come to Arizona to see me a few times as well. After doing that for what seemed like a century we decided that we wanted to be like any other couple and live in the same place. It seemed like a good plan but of course baseball had other plans so we are still traveling to see each other. This year will be the first time that I will be able to spend the offseason with him so after three years I feel like I'm getting the boyfriend I was always waiting for!

Like any other couple we've had our ups and downs but with each twist and turn we find ourselves growing closer together. Being back in Arizona reminded me of where we started and how far we've come. I'm excited for future trips back, not only to see friends, but also to take that stroll down memory lane and maybe even grab a margarita while we're at it.