Priceless or Has anybody here, seen Frank?

I'm not clever enough to come up with one of those "Priceless" spots. If I were to give it a try, it would look something like this:

• Eating cottage cheese and strawberries at 11:17 am on a Saturday: $1.03


• Surfing the Internet for things to do while in Arizona at 11:32 am on a Saturday: $1.16


• Getting the call from Frank Rottier for two tickets to see the Cubs vs. Cardinals at Wrigley Field (Aisle 123, Row 2, Seats 3 and 4--that's just behind home plate) at 11:38 am on a Saturday: Priceless

I've been friends with Frank Rottier for over 20 years. He came to Loyola when I was a sophomore. He transferred from University of Wisconsin (Green Bay, I think) when he realized that he wanted to be a doctor. Frank and I were in ROTC together. He was a year ahead of me, so technically, he was my superior.

I've always liked Frank. He's got a great sense of humor, and he's one of the smartest guys I know. What's interesting about our friendship is that we've never really ever had any moments where we had any bad blood with each other.

There was one time, in ROTC, when we went to some far away place in the middle of nowhere Wisconsin. We were on a weekend FTE--Field Training Exercise--it was cold, rainy, and Frank was in charge. I just wanted to be back at the dorm, eating pizza and drinking beer. Instead, I was playing soldier and freezing my ass off.

Frank was just doing his job when he yelled at me to "suck it up and deal with the pain," which is why I never held it against him. Sure, I was pissed at him for being what I perceived as a dick, but I got over it pretty quickly.

Frank and I have been present with one another during pivotal moments in our lives. When he married Karen, another ROTC cadet, friend, and senior year girlfriend of Franks, in 1992, I was a groomsman. When Frank turned 30, Cyndi and I (and her friend, Tressa) helped him celebrate at Hamitons, our old college hang-out. Frank and Karen helped me celebrate my 30th, as well. When Frank graduated podiatry school, Cyndi and I attended the ceremony and the subsequent celebration thereafter. When Frank and Karen moved from Evanston to Lakeview, Cyndi and I helped them move (and I was in the Ryder truck with Frank when he smashed into a poorly parked car). We were there when John, Frank and Karen's son, was baptized. When I was a Junior in college, Frank even let me celebrate Thanksgiving with his family one year when, for whatever reason, I didn't go home to celebrate.

There's only one thing I regret in our friendhsip. It's when I didn't ask Frank to be a groomsman in my wedding. And I have no excuse for the exclusion except temporary (or permanent?) stupidity. Cyndi and I had a big wedding party. We could have easily included him. But we didn't. And for that, I've always felt sorry.

I think I "made up" for the error when I asked him to be Lily's godfather (and he accepted). It's a responsibility I do not take lightly. I'm glad we made the decision because it may just mean we are sealed for life. We will always have the bond of my little girl to ensure our friendship.

If I've learned anything in the last 39 years of my life, it's that friendships are important. And this one, is priceless.