I was really bummed out on Saturday afternoon as I watched the Michigan Wolverines beat their state rivals, the Michigan State Spartans, in a tough defensive battle. This was Michigan’s 900^th all-time win, and I was supposed to be there.

A couple friends and I usually make one trip to Michigan every season. It’s only a five-hour drive, and it is always so much fun. As always, I was really looking forward to it, but somehow the plan fell through this year. Something came up for one of the guys, and that is how I ended up watching this game on television, instead of being there.

I once left an extra-inning Cubs game due to another commitment, only to later see the game-winning home run almost hit my empty seat. It was an odd feeling watching where I should have been, and Saturday was the same.

I love the Michigan trip. We have some excellent dining staples (Bagger Dave’s for burgers, the Border Cantina for Mexican and the Cottage Inn for pizza), and we always mix in a wild card or two for breakfast or lunch.

So there I sat, eating a boring sandwich and drowning my sorrows in a Coke as I watched this historic Michigan win. I should have been clad in maize and blue with a 32-ounce souvenir Coke in hand at the Big House. I should have been savoring my turkey burger from lunch while anticipating the zesty pizza later.

Earlier this year, my brother-in-law missed a family trip to an Iowa game due to illness. That was bad enough, but I wasn’t sick.

I will not let this happen again. The experience of a good trip with friends is far too valuable to let slip away. I will see all future trip plans through to the end. That is my lesson learned.

— John Wroblewski, online contributor