Unexplored Territory

Thursday, May 03, 2007

A Weekend of Memories

When Ace and I were dating, he took me to the Kentucky Derby. It was an experience and a half. Of course, we were poor college students, so it was the infield for us.

Lel E. Tee, ridden by Pat Day, was the winner of the Derby that year. I remember walking around, looking at all the drunk people. I remember seeing a group of people with a cutout of E.T., and couldn't understand their craziness. They weren't crying that year, I'm sure, as their pony made it to the wire first. I remember watching a group of guys start rocking a port-a-potty with someone in it. I remember losing my $ 100 Ray Bans (remember those!) at the bus stop BEFORE the Derby started, having to buy an obnoxious plastic pair with the Derby logo on it. I was SPORTING.

The following year, I was already back up in Ohio but I made the trip back down to the 'Ville to attend the Derby. That year, you can bet that I did not pick Sea Hero. My luck with the ponies was NOT good. We would go to Keeneland in Lexington, KY, and I think I won maybe twice. And we went a few times. It was embarassing, really.

That year, we were there with Ace's friends. And I remember one friend, one IDIOTIC friend, saying "has he asked her yet?"

This didn't register with me. I attributed it to Scott just being ... Scott. You just have to know Scott. He is his own enigma.

So that night, Ace had a night dinner out planned. I sort of suspected something was up. He was nervous. He kept his pocket away from me. We ate dinner at The Galt House, and he took me up on the Belvedere in downtown Louisville.

And then he asked me. THE question.

And of course, I said yes.

So this coming weekend hold a lot of memories for me. I have no idea who is running the field at the Derby. I haven't followed horse racing. But I will be there, watching it on the television because I just have to.

It's tradition.

Labels: engagement, Kentucky Derby

I'm a mom of three peeps ... Queen Bee, The Door Man, and the Chandelier Monkey, and wife to Ace, the Helpful Hardware Man. I created this space to get away from the people known as my inlaws, and because life with three kids and a hubby is all Unexplored Territory.

The nine-year-old who seems to be growing older every minute, has an opinion and a comment for everything, and has a true servant's heart.

The seven-year-old who loves the organization of things, will someday be someone's therapist because of his kind soul, and will more than likely be living with us until he is 40 years old.

The five-year-old with the 13-year-old attitude, who has a dictator's personality, asks you to watch her all the time and say "hold on" to keep your attention, and will someday come home on the back of some dude's motorcycle with 10 tatts and a body piercing or two.

The man of the house, the fixer of things, the winner of prizes, and the only person in his family to escape the South.