The Road to the Final Four

The term "The Road to the Final Four" is known by college basketball fans as the journey each team begins at the start of the season as they chase the ultimate goal: The National Title. This year, I was fortunate enough to watch my KY Wildcats take a crazy journey through the season and end up in the Final Four in Houston. I was even lucky enough to see them play, but sadly we did not make it to the title game. However, as I reflected on my life and the years that led up to me having a seat at Reliant Stadium in Houston, the term, "The Road to the Final Four" took on a very different meaning for me. It somewhat became a metaphor of sorts for me.

You see, I'm a huge believer in fate and destiny. And as I became overjoyed with the excitement that I was going to get to see my Cats play in the Final Four, I began to reflect upon the years, people, places, and events that led up to me sitting in that arena.

Picture it, Mandeville, LA, 1996. That was the first year that my family lived in Louisiana. I hated it. I hated just about everything about it. I hated the weather, I hated my school, I hated the food there, the way people talked. I HATED EVERYTHING. Also, in April of that year, my Cats also made the journey to the Final Four and clinched the title that year. Their first since 1978. I remember like it were yesterday, watching the game in our living room with my family, so proud to see our boys take it all, and a little sad that I wasn't in the Bluegrass State to celebrate with my fellow Wildcat fans. I was even fortunate enough to share the same feeling of pride when we won again in 1998.

Fast forward to present day. I have come a long way from that living room in Mandeville. I have made my peace with moving to Louisiana and I have even learned to love some things about it. I even take credit for recruiting some new members to the Big Blue Nation.

Last week, I found myself sitting with my family in Reliant Stadium watching the Cats as they made a memorable run for the title. And as I sat there I couldn't help but all the events that had taken place for me to get there. Had I never left KY, I may never had such a passion for KY basketball (ok...that's a lie...it's like religion in that state). Also, if my family had never made that first move to Mandeville, would my parents have eventually ended up in Houston, which made us going to the Final Four convenient? There is no way to know. But what I do know, is that fate has lead me to where I am today. Even on my saddest days, when all I could think of was how my life might be better if I still lived in KY, I had fate that it was all for a reason. I had fate, that one day I would know why destiny took me on so many moves and changes through life. Also, several recent events and random twists of fate, have helped me to realize that it was all for a REASON! When, I look back on the years I spent bitter over a move, I realize that had I not moved, I would have missed out on some many wonderful people, places, things, and experiences. People who have come and gone, things that I may not have otherwise tried, places I may have never seen, and experiences I would never have gotten to cherish.

My Road to the Final Four was a crazy journey. But I wouldn't have traded sitting in Section 115, row AA, seat 19, the other night for the world!

FATE: the will or principle or determining cause by which things in general are believed to come to be as they are or events to happen as they do : destiny