It’s been a long standing tradition that every May, we gather and watch the KY Derby with Emily’s people.  Well, really we gather to eat KFC chicken.  We usually  spend three minutes researching our favorite horses and then cheer for another two minutes.  We cheer…vigorously which is quite exhausting.  Try cheering solid for 2 minutes about a horse.  Of course, after all of the excitement, we need to re-fuel so we eat derby pie.

Even when we lived in KY and TN, we upheld the tradition, even if it was just the 2 (then 3, then 4 when Abigail was born) of us.  When we moved back to WV, we petitioned the gang (yes, they are a gang) to add a new part to the tradition.  For the last few years, on Derby day, we also wear “fancy” hats.

I take great pride in making my hat each year as do most of the gang.  Abigail made ribbons for the hat-wearers for the best hats.  I am proud to say I won 3rd place this year.  My hat was…well, you tell me.  I don’t know what it was other than Derby-worthy.

Those drunken women at the real KY Derby have nothing on our hats…and we aren’t even drunk!