GOOD BYE TO FAYE.

Just a quick note to my blogging friends to let you know I will be offline for a few days. My family sufferred a great loss on Thursday this week when we lost my niece to cancer. She had been battling this dreadful monster for several years and passed away on Thursday evening. I was just getting ready to walk out the door to go spend the night at the hospital with my sister, her mother, and got the call that it was too late and not to make the trip.

She was only 53 years old. We know that she is in a better place but our hearts are still very heavy and we will miss her so much.

I need to spend time with my family and will be back soon. Love to all my blogging friends.

LET'S GO TO THE RACES!

Spring in Kentucky means horse racing!

Yesterday, April 19, Bob and I took our bi-annual trip to Keeneland Race Track in beautiful Lexington.

We usually go to Keeneland once in the spring and once in the fall. This trip was the first time it has poured rain the entire day. Thankfully, we always have reservations for the Lexington Room where we can sit in the window and have a nice lunch while watching the races. We usually meet friends there both times and enjoy watching the races, visiting, eating, and betting on the horses.

That's Bob checking out the racing form in the picture on the right. The one on the left is inside the Lexington Room.

Keeneland was founded in 1935 and is the global leader in Thoroughbred horse auctions and conducts world-class Thoroughbred horse racing every April and October.

The 1st million-dollar yearling in Thoroughbred history, Canadian Bound, was sold in 1976 at Keeneland.

In 2009, the Horseplayers Association of North America introduced a rating system for 65 Thoroughbred racetracks in North America. Of the top ten, Keeneland was ranked #1.

We went on Sunday but my girls and their friends all went to Keeneland on Saturday. The weather was wonderful that day and they had the second largest crowd in Keeneland's history.

This past Saturday 33,680 people attended this race track. The record was 33,821 on 4/21/2007.

Lexington is considered "The Horse Capital of the World" with more than 450 beautiful horse farms with either white or black board fences and if you ever fly into Lexington Airport this area is a sight to behold from the air!

The Kentucky Horse Park located in Lexington is the only park in the world dedicated exclusively to horses. The park will host the 2010 World Equestrian Games held for the first time outside of Europe.

Lexington is also home to the famous Red Mile, the 2nd oldest harness track in the world.

Kentucky is home to several other Thoroughbred race tracks and harness racing events.

Of course, the legendary Churchill Downs built in 1874 in Louisville hosts the famous Kentucky Derby every year known as the "Greatest Two Minutes in Sports."

We enjoy Keeneland because it is not as big as Churchill Downs and I live about 40 minutes away from Lexington.

We did not win any money this time. I lost about $18 and that was the end of my betting. I don't think you would consider me a gambler! We have won a little in the past but mostly go to enjoy time with friends and enjoy the atmosphere at Keeneland.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROB!

I remember so well 41 years ago, April 14, 1968. I went into labor about 3 a.m. in the morning. Your dad and I called your grandmother to go with us to the hospital. My pains were coming but not bad enough to leave yet. She arrived at our place with her dress unzipped all the way down the back! I guess she was in such a hurry she completely forgot. We left for the hospital about 5:30 a.m. on Easter Sunday morning.

I was in hard labor for hours and kept sending your dad out to ask the nurse if I could have something for pain. They gave me a shot but I wanted more. You were my first child and I had no idea what to expect.

I would get mad at your father and I remember telling him that he did not feel a "damned" thing and I was "dying". You were born at 1:30 p.m. that afternoon weighing 8lbs.10 ounces. Once I saw that big "shock" of black hair all the pain suddenly disappeared and was forgotten.

You were such a good baby and I loved dressing you up in all the new outfits and showing you off to all my friends and relatives.

Your artistic ability began to show itself at an early age and we gave you art lessons when you were about eight years old. Little did we know that you would continue with your drawing and even major in art in college. You also loved G.I. Joe and I remember your dad having to climb upon top of the house to throw G.I. Joe off the roof with his parachute!

Your love of motorcycles began when you got a dirt bike at an early age and a broken collar bone did not discourage you in the least.

We were so proud when you graduated college. Our little boy was all grown up!

In college you discovered you had acting skills and took off to California where you acted in several movies before deciding to give it all up and move back to Kentucky.

Then, you married that wonderful woman, Sarah! The days of being a gypsy, tramping around Europe, living in Florida, New York, and California. The days of acting in movies, riding across country on a motorcycle, and working as a comic book artist all took a back seat to beautiful Sarah! A girl you knew in college and did not even like became your sweet, darling wife and the mother of the cutest little boy on earth when you fell head over heels in love.

You have always made me so proud of you.

Now, I am proud of you and your family. Sarah and Thomas Wyatt complete you.

Happy Birthday, son. I hope you have a wonderful birthday and I love you so much.