By the time you read this, I will be motoring east on Interstate 10 on the way to Tempe, Arizona for my annual Angels spring training weekend. I love this road trip. Being a creature of habit means my first stop will be for a breakfast of pancakes, sausage and eggs at the Steaks ’n’ Cakes in Blythe, California. Second stop will most likely be along the road somewhere between there and my destination to take a few pictures of the desert in bloom. With all the rain the Southwest has received this year, there should be rare wildflowers blooming everywhere. Certain strains of wildflowers can lie dormant for years and suddenly come to life with a wetter than normal rainy season such as we have had. I’m hoping to see an unusual display of color, even along the Interstate.

Finally I will be arriving at Tempe Diablo Stadium hopefully by the 1:10 pm game time for the game between the Angels and the White Sox. One surprise this year will be the opportunity to meet a couple from the Catch who bought an RV last summer, rented out their house and hit the road. Being from southern California as well, they are also Angels fans and found out that there are opportunities for volunteers during spring training to work tickets at the games and usher. It’s a trade off to be there and be able to see a pretty good amount of the 10 home games they will work. Nancy says they are having a blast. I gave them my seat numbers so I expect they will find me. It will be fun to have a little Catch reunion at the ball game!

It’s always a privilege and a joy to meet Catch readers in person. It makes us all feel more like family. And on Saturday, I will be driving to Tucson to meet with a member of our new Accountability Commission. So it’s really going to be a Catch weekend in Arizona. I will report in at various times over the weekend; you can catch up with that on Monday. And don’t forget church on Sunday at 6 pm Pacific. I’ll be holding church from there as well.

Go Angels!