Today is a Great Day in My History.

Little Ceasers Arena - Detroit News

I could tell you my life story right now, but I'll skip to the point. My three hobbies and careers: hockey, music, and technical illustration all tied together just a little bit today, when I watched the last steel beam of the new Little Ceasers Arena fall into place in Detroit.

Photo: Max Ortiz, Detroit news (Grove Telescoping Boom Crane in background)

The current head coach, Jeff Blashill, is a former classmate from Ferris State University, and his wife is one of my former teammates best friends. The cranes used to complete the project were built here, at Manitowoc Crane. And because of music, Jeff and I share one more thing in common, we are both NCAA lettered Ferris State Grads with Calder Cup championships (AHL) as coaches.

Photo: Just Sports, Hershey, PA

I grew up listening to Red Wings games and playing harmonica. At Ferris State I became a cheerleader because I never learned to skate (it's an expensive sport). I played music at coffee shops and floor hockey at night, and I occasionally sat in my car in the winter and tuned in to WJR760 Detroit to catch a game.

Photo: Max Ortiz, Detroit News (Chris Illitch announcing last piece of steel)

But now, I sit surrounded in my drawings of crane parts as starry eyed for the rebirth of Detroit as any Illitch ever was, and I marvel at the Manitowoc Cranes, building an arena for my classmate. My band releases their first album this Friday.

I hope that you find moments in life like this, and I hope they reward you too.

Note: top photo, Max Ortiz, Detroit News (Manitowoc 18000 Lattice Boom Crane lowers last piece of steel into Little Ceasers Arena)