And then there was the time when D.J. and I followed in my Mother’s footsteps and worked at The Kentucky Derby.
Aunt Frances and her son, Pete had been employed there. To continue the family tradition of being involved with horse racing on Central Avenue, she introduced us to the wonders of riding the Churchill Downs elevator up to Millionaire’s Row.
As a busboy, D.J. rubbed elbows with the rich and famous and brought home the lifetime treasure of Andy Williams’s and Bing Crosby’s autographs.
Practicing the art of making perfect Mint Juleps, the three of us ladies found our elbows deep in bins of crushed ice. I came home with great respect for both mint and ice.
Later when one of my students offered me a few mint plants I smiled as I dug their new home in my front yard. Memories have a way of bringing back Derby events long after they occur.
John Vallee joined the family Derby workforce and fared very well through tips he received while working a food booth. Nana K. and I met him in the parking lot for our ride home. He sat his cooler down on the ground and waved a high-handed greeting. John started pulling money out of his pockets while laughing and hugging us.
Driving out of the parking lot he would pull up a few feet, stop, and look at us repeating the money pull and laughter. It took an unusual amount of time to arrive at the Clark’s Lane home.
Live TV coverage of one memorable Derby found John Vallee and Steve disclosing how they successfully brought hidden contraband in a cooler past the Infield checkpoint,”…under the fried chicken.”
All of us have different thoughts that reappear during the festivities that lead up to the Derby. Some of us are lucky to remember stopping work when the call to the post is given and we stand with the rich and famous looking down at the track from millionaire’s row.