DAY 119: DERBY HEAVEN!

 I have somehow gotten these pictures out of order. This was supposed to be the last in the series. We were back at my sister and brother-in-law's house after Derby 2004, and my husband and I had just prepared the after-derby feast of Thai Shrimp Curry! Yummy! My daughter did not approve of my Derby Hat. She thought I looked like I belonged working in a rice paddy. Oh well.   

Everything seemed to go well that day. We breezed right into the Derby with no problem and had seats under cover, so we didn't get wet during the big rainfall of Derby 2004...

Here we are, getting our parking spot within walking distance of Churchill Downs. It was crazy how close we were.

 Walking in!

  My sister, Gail with a Derby artist....I love this picture. It is great printed out on canvas!!!

 Channel 3 stars?

 Carol & Gail...

 Our box.... See that one seat there with no one in it? That was my seat! We had a great time!

Me & Stephen having a Mint Julep...

DAY 118: YOUNG DEMS of MARION CO HUYA!

  

Those attending the Marion County Young Democrats' HUYA this week were welcomed by this character!

We are proud of your young Marion County Dems...not only are they the state chapter of the year, but the new President of the statewide organization is Chad Mattingly, from Marion County!

DAY 117: My Derby Clothes, Circa 2004

DAY 116: A FAVORITE DERBY DAY

I once experienced a Derby Day that seemed absolutely enchanted! Everything that could go right went right.

My husband scored some prime box seats at the finish line; they were just under cover, which served us very well - we were spared the major rain that held up the Derby for quite some time that year that Smarty Jones won.

We chatted with our neighbors in the box in front of us and got in on a "secret"... they were from Pennsylvania and with the Smarty Jones crew...but the main thing was that there would be an attempted engagement that day, and we would have a front row seat to the requested betrothal. Naturally, we were all about it!

The clouds gathered and the rain came down...while most everyone else at Churchill Downs was wondering when the rain would stop so the Derby could resume, we were in our front row seats, witnessing a very soggy marriage proposal.

 

A pretty friend of the soon to be engaged couple...

  

 She was helping him plan his strategy. Notice the red rose....

 

 The couple during the races...and before the proposal...

 It was a driving rain, and we wondered when it would end. Everyone in front of this couple's box had abandoned their seats. But our Derby neighbor was not willing to wait for a sunnier moment to pop the question...our Derby Romeo got down on his knees in the rain and asked his girl to marry him.

And she said, "YES!"

And then he started acting like a total red neck and she called it off.*

___

About that time, the sky parted, the sun shown brightly, and the Derby resumed with a zillion Derby fans none the wiser about what had just transpired in the box seats at the finish line.

Just one of many Kentucky Derby stories...

 *I'm kidding about her calling it off, but he did act like a total redneck!!! However, he did eventually calm down a bit, as you can see from the pictures below.

I wonder how they are doing today.

DAY 115: THE ADVOCATE

My rendition of a local Victim Advocate comforting a young woman during a particularly difficult Court proceeding.