O, the rollercoaster ride of life!

The Cubs clinched their spot in the playoffs after a sweep in Pittsburgh. Immediately afterward, they lost at least three straight to the Reds.

My trip to Wrigley with friends was everything I could have asked for. The memories of my friend Sam and his fiancée Valerie — though painful at times — were a gift. The time with friends was a blast. The Bug made it all the way to Wrigley — no further, mind you — but it did its job. We drove 2,000 miles to Wrigley! It will go down as one of the most meaningful weeks of my life. Thank you for your support along the way!

Then, I came home to my loving wife as we transitioned my mother into our house following her new cancer diagnosis. The next day, my father-in-law was hospitalized. He still isn’t able to return home. We are increasingly concerned as our parents age and decline quickly. A few days later, our little pet goat was gone in the backyard. My wife does not take these things well. On top of all that, the pile of work I returned to is still sitting there, as these other things had to take priority.

I had intended to update you, my readers, almost two weeks ago. But…such is life. The rollercoaster of life.

So, what now?

Now, there is a book to write. I’m excited about this process, but I’m also aware of the constraints I’ll have to battle. About twenty-one thousand words fill the manuscript, but there’s still a long way to go. Over the years, I’ve been capturing vignettes and ideas. I’ve established a structure to organize the material. I’ve identified themes I plan to weave throughout the story. I am also brainstorming some upcoming get-togethers with friends — meant to keep me committed to this quest, which isn’t just about writing a book. It’s about living well and becoming a better friend in real life. Of course, the better the Cubs do in the postseason, the more fun we’ll have, so I need you all to cheer and follow along with our boys on the North Side! We also have a new Mexican League team in Tucson, so I plan to hang out around the local ballpark with good people, too.

For those who have signed up to support me, I want to let you know what you’re giving to. I’ll be carving out chunks of time — some short, some extended — to focus on writing. There will be minimal costs associated with this, mostly fuel and coffee. I’ll also be working on the necessary steps to pursue a publisher. That will include creating materials, building a website, and seeking opportunities to share this journey publicly. These steps will involve expenses that I have no way to offset without your continued generosity.

So, for now, I say thank you! Thank you for caring enough about me, my friends, and this journey to follow along; for caring about the state of friendship in our world; for your prayers, encouragement, and practical help that made this crazy idea of a road trip in a 1971 Volkswagen to Wrigley Field move from dream to reality. I hope you continue this journey with me as the story continues to unfold.

So here’s to you, my friends! Here’s to riding the rollercoaster of life together. Here’s to October baseball. And Go Cubs Go!

What Now? was originally published in 2,000 Miles to Wrigley on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.