12-05-2011, 11:52 AM
Seven years ago, my son was playing on a travelling baseball team for 13 year olds. By virtue of finishing second in a big tournament in central California, our team qualified for a 64 team national tournament in Tulsa. Our team manager, one of the dads, made the arrangements and we all headed out there in July. We got off the plane, felt the heat and humidity, and wondered what he was thinking - we came to Oklahoma??
But how did it turn out? We all - and I do mean all of us - had a great time. What I found was that folks were really, honestly friendly - no matter where we went, folks asked us where we were from, wanted to know about California. Driving in Tulsa and on the highways was another pleasant experience. California is probably the center of the universe for road rage. OK is the polar opposite - their freeway onramps are shorter, but no one ever honked or gave me the bird - people would politely allow me to merge.
Of course, that our boys started playing well (after dropping the first two games) and made it to the consolation round finals helped. But we all had real pleasant memories of our trip - it truly was the best trip that team ever took.
But how did it turn out? We all - and I do mean all of us - had a great time. What I found was that folks were really, honestly friendly - no matter where we went, folks asked us where we were from, wanted to know about California. Driving in Tulsa and on the highways was another pleasant experience. California is probably the center of the universe for road rage. OK is the polar opposite - their freeway onramps are shorter, but no one ever honked or gave me the bird - people would politely allow me to merge.
Of course, that our boys started playing well (after dropping the first two games) and made it to the consolation round finals helped. But we all had real pleasant memories of our trip - it truly was the best trip that team ever took.