“Down the stretch they come!”
It’s one of my favorite weekends of the year – The Kentucky Derby! The last time I was at Churchill Downs was May 2009, two months before my injury. I loved the feeling of excitement, anticipation and awe that would take over as I walked the hallowed grounds on race day. All the beautiful people were out, rubbing shoulders with one another and walking through the crowd certainly made for some great people watching. Most of the ladies were adorned in bright, festive summer dresses, while donning large, colorful hats. The men were usually dressed to the nines, decked out in seersuckers and linen suits, myself favoring the latter.
The electricity in the air was palpable, and the closer it drew to post time, the thicker the adrenaline flowed through the 100,000+ gathered in attendance to witness the greatest 2 minutes in sports! Horse racing is affectionately referred to as “the sport of Kings,” but for me it always takes somewhat of a magical existence as time seems to stand still and all is right with the world, if only for a few moments.
I used to watch the race standing on the tips of my toes, bouncing up and down almost as if I would float away if gravity took the day off. These days I watch the same race while sitting still in a chair, relegated to having to rock my upper body side to side to show my excitement. An unwanted paradox I am still accepting.
Trying my best to handicap the race, enjoying a mint julep, growing more and more giddy as the race draws near, are all special little moments of life I can still appreciate. However, the smells of the track, the feel of the racing form in my hands and the celebratory hugs and kisses with Kristy are now gone, fading further into the past with the arrival of each new day. Would I change things back to the Derby days of old if I could? Absolutely. Will I stop enjoying the Derby and the many wonderful memories it has given me? Never.
This past week, Bob, Amanda and beautiful, little Anna, spent Sunday afternoon with me. This was really the first time I was able to enjoy some quality time with Anna that she was able to comprehend. I delighted in hearing her say “Uncle Scott” and enjoy rides on my lap around the apartment. It was wonderful to catch up with the three of them and spend most of the time laughing like we used to.
The weather also decided to warm up this past week. In fact, I’ve even had to turn the air conditioning on. Although I still spend most of the day outside in the sun warming up, burning up and enjoying every second of it! Yesterday, while listening to my iPod on random, “Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer” by Dean Martin played. I found it quite humorous to listen to the entire song, but pray that it is not a foreshadowing of winter weather arriving anytime soon!
Looking forward to a wonderful race tomorrow, Cinco de Mayo, and an evening out with some friends from grade school I haven’t seen in over 20 years! For now, I still have some last-minute handicapping to do. But for the record my superfecta is:
Alpha (11)
Take Charge Indy (3)
Bodemeister (6)
Trinniberg (9)
The #9 horse is a 50-1 long shot. They say lightning doesn’t strike twice, but my last trip to the Derby. I bet on Mine That Bird (also a 50-1 long shot) to Win. He did. Lightning doesn’t always strike twice, but would you expect anything less from me than to bet on the long shot? You can never count us out!
Thank you for your continued support, your prayers, and the blessings I continue to receive from God!
Stand Strong!
Scott