7th Annual Kentucky Derby Party-2005

Just when you thought it was safe to drink bourbon again...

131st Kentucky Derby Official Logo

Giacomo, longshot winner of the Derby

The Bourbonbong

The party was a great success despite some initial concern about whether we'd even be able to pull it off. Both Don and I have recently taken on some new committments which have left both of us temporarily at least a little short on spare time. But there is no postponing the Derby Party. It either runs on the first Saturday in May or it don't. Personal perceptions of spare time don't really matter. Like Yoda put it, "Do or do not. There is no try." There were other concerns: a senior member of the Hill family is gravely ill and so the family could be called away at any minute. No Hill's, no party. The price of oil is shooting up. This is an unrelated concern but if you subscribe to the six degrees of separation stuff maybe you'd factor that in as well.

Well, we convened a meeting three weeks prior to the derby to discuss the thing. We met at Don and Elke's place. Dan and Daisy were present, as well as Darryn from upstairs....It was ostensibly to be a planning session, however, what it really was was a gut check. "Are we going to do it?" we asked ourselves, and the answer, "yes". Once the affirmation was in place the planning was easy. We've done this so many times it's old hat now. Juleps a week before. Location: Don and Elke's. Catering: Pete, Chris, and Daisy and Dan. Menu: pulled pork, beans, bourbon. Lots of bourbon....Derby week, Don and family to prep the house and backyard. Everyone else on food. Show up on Derby Day and let the magic happen....

I'm proud to say that we were able to pull it off. Thanks to everybody who came and especialy the hosts. See ya'll next year, good lord willin and the creek don't rise.

Pete