I have been told by Chase that I have an exceptional memory. (He can't even remember what he had for supper the night before!) I often get caught up a lot of times remembering something from years ago that can just come out of now where! With that being said, each Friday I will pick a memory of some sort and flashback to well....it won't go any further back than 1983! It could be anything I think of, whether it be a song, TV show/movie, family/friends memory....the possibilities are endless!
Without further adieu, here is the first FLASHBACK FRIDAY!!!
The Kentucky Derby
I was born and bred in South Central Kentucky. I have a deep sense of pride coming from the most beautiful commonwealth in the United States. Like every other Kentuckian, the first Saturday in May has to be one of the highlights of my year! The annual Run for the Roses, the Kentucky Derby! (I must culture you a bit and let you know that most Kentuckians don't call it the Kentucky Derby...it's just DERBY.) We Kentuckians truly know how to throw a party and the weeks leading up to it. Derby Festival has a slew of events such as Thunder Over Louisville (Oh, the fireworks!), the Pegasus Parade, Steamboat Races on the Ohio River, and the Kentucky Oaks (filly races on Friday). That's just to name a few...
Though I have never been to Derby, (yes, you heard that correct, but have been to Churchill Downs several times) it always held fond memories for me as a child. I was just telling a co-worker this morning that the day of the Derby, the Louisville Courier Journal always publishes a Derby section. This section is filled with everything about the weekend you would want to know, including the contenders, their jockeys and their silk patterns. I always chose famed jockeys, Pat Day or Gary Stephen's horses. My parents used to throw Derby parties for our friends. We would have 4 or 5 families over the day for lots a food and horse racing. A few years I would recall a few bets being placed, but we were never in on any of that fun!
Please don't get me wrong, I love living here in Alabama, but I can't help but get a little teary-eyed when Derby comes around. Tradition has been for the past 2 years to go to the lake to celebrate. It makes me proud to watch it on TV. When they play "My Old Kentucky Home" and the entire Grand Stand and infield proudly stand and sing, I join along. When someone asks me what they're singing, I tell them the most beautiful song in the world. Every child in the commonwealth learns it in elementary school and never forgets the words. Can most people sing their state song, quite the way we can, or even at all?! The call to the post gives me chills and the Kentucky Derby truly is the "fastest two minutes in sports."
6 comments:
I know this is one of your favorite weekends of the year, looking forward to watching it at the lake with you!
Flashback Friday...I like it!
I'm suprised My Old Kentucky Home is not on your blog's playlist ;-)
You are very right about the passion Kentuckian's have for their state song. The only thing I can associate with Indiana's is that Gomer Pyle (Jim Neighbors) used to sing it at the Indy 500 every year.
Enjoy your day at the lake watching the ponies sipping Mint Juleps and eatting Derby pie. (YUM!!)
OOPS!!! I missed a comma in my last post!!! I didn't mean the ponies were going to be sipping Mint Juleps and eatting Derby pie. It should be "...ponies, sipping..."
Ha ha!
SO dear Sister,
I too remeber the games of kick ball in the Broome's lot on Derby Day. I started to nod my head even more when you stated talking about learning "My Old KY Home" by Stephen FOSTER (not Floyd) in 4th grade along with the forts and the field trip to My Old KY Home. I thought about you when it played on the bells towers the other day walking to class. I love you!
Alice, you are adorable...I love the theme...and just finished watching the DerbY! I love it when "underdogs" win! How sweet is your husband?? I love his comment on your page...Miss yall, but am enjoying reading your blog!
Very cool post!! It's amazing how ignorant that we can be of other state's big events - I must say I've never thought about how huge that would be in Kentucky!
I like the weekly post idea - can't wait to read more!! I told Chris the other day that I'm really starting to feel old, because when I make new friends I realize how MUCH life I have had that they don't know about, and to tell them about it all, that would take the rest of my life!! So flashback friday is a good way to clue us new friends in to the rest of your life!! :)
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