Last weekend was the celebration of life for my dad's friend. They played basketball and softball together, went on basketball scouting trips, and even on a family vacation to Sea World. But this friendship is forever cemented in my memory because of the countless summer picnics in our backyard. Every weekend, several couples gathered with their kids. To this day, I can't look at my mom's backyard without seeing a baseball diamond and the elusive home run over the barn. My dad's name is Joe, just like his friend who passed away. I imagine that makes it harder somehow. As my parents get older, I see how the death of friends and family hits them differently. This one hit me a little differently too. One generation apart. But all the same childhood memories. So, I made the trip home to celebrate his life. Closing the Gap I believe trips like this, even on sad occasions, help close the gap created by miles, months, and generations. Over the years, we celebrated a lot of picnics, …