Groton — This-is-your-life moments rarely come with foreshadowing. They just happen. Magically. And they are happening all around Roger Bidwell this week, a life's work happily presenting itself to be admired.

Bidwell: The conscience of UConn Avery Point. He's been there since 1982, the face of the place, more recognizable than Branford House, stunning views and any educational program. Bidwell, the school's athletic director, won 1,007 games as its baseball coach, making six trips to the World Series.

Then there's this: Bidwell has long since retired the trophy as our corner of the world's greatest after dinner speaker.

In the past week, Bidwell ...

• Coordinated a reunion of the Vagabonds, an iconic old-time baseball team from the region that was the brainchild of the great Rollie Pier. The Vags might not have started the great passion for local sports around here — or maybe they did — but they sure sustained it.

• Celebrated Avery Point's now seventh trip to the National Junior College Athletic Association World Series, indicating Bidwell got it right by hiring Mike Aldrich as his successor. The Pointers won a regional title this weekend in New York.

• Prepared for his own special trip, the one later this week for Grand Junction, Colo., where he'll be inducted into the NJCAA Hall of Fame. As Bidwell's plane heads to Colorado, the Pointers will be in the air bound for the Series in Enid, OK.

Can't think of anybody who deserves this more.

Bidwell spent Monday coordinating flights for the team and its coaches. On short notice. To Enid, which, as the old line goes, you can't get there from here.

"Mikey," Bidwell said during a brief phone conversation. "These bleeping airlines."

But it hurt so good for the once and future king of 1084 Shennecossett Rd., who was happy to report the Vagabonds reunion, held last Friday at the Norwich VFW, was a smash hit. And then he was only too happy to talk about the Pointers of 2017, who are awash in several players of local origin.

Bidwell said more than 40 former players attended the Vagabonds bash, honoring Pier with food, fun and firewater. Henry Gunther, Reggie Wheeler, Tommie Major, Jim O'Neill, Rich Salerno, Tom Capalbo and many others. Let the record show that Bidwell coordinated the night out of respect to Pier, an unsuspecting local legend, and perhaps because he realizes that we're all approaching the back nine faster than we realize.

Remember this and write it down: Tell the people who mean the most to you how much they mean. Many old friends did that the other night in Norwich because Bidwell cared enough to coordinate.

His other old team, meanwhile, is headed to another World Series. Said it before, say it again: There is no other region in the universe that has two better preparatory programs than ours: St. Thomas More basketball and Avery Point baseball.

Bidwell alone sent more than 150 players to four-year schools, not to mention John McDonald, Pete Walker and Rajai Davis to the majors. This year, locals include Trevor Bolduc and Cooper Robinson (Mystic), Andy Grant (Norwich), Justin Keating, Josh Vincent and Mike Rocchetti (Waterford) and C.J. Leindecker (East Lyme).

"I'm really proud of all of them," Bidwell said, taking a respite from travel agent duties. "All great stuff."

Indeed. As is Bidwell's impending Hall of Fame honor.

Bidwell has been our region's Piano Man since he began coaching at Avery Point. Remember the line from Billy Joel's song: "They sit at the bar and put bread in my jar and say, 'man, what are YOU doing here?'"

It's another way of saying that Bidwell could have coached baseball anywhere. But he stayed here. True to his family and friends. Sure, spotlights are bigger and brighter elsewhere. But there's something magical and magnetic about this corner of the world sometimes. We are a loyal lot. Which is why we should all rejoice in Bidwell's recognition.

All those days coaching junior college baseball freezing his ascot off at Washington Park ... and now the universe is repaying him in 100-dollar bills.

Bidwell, known to hoist the euphoric nectar now and again, likes to raise a glass and say, "here's to the winners of the world." He should toast himself right about now.

This is the opinion of Day sports columnist Mike DiMauro