Between the Belmont Stakes going off in a bit and Katie getting married tomorrow, I’m having a flashback. 24 years ago, I was at the Belmont Stakes. Of course I’m looking at the crowds there today, & I’m still sweating from the 10 minutes I was outside cooking burgers and I’m thinking, “Damn, I’m glad I’m not there now in that crowd, baking in the sun!” But I was younger back then. Frank & I were there, holding a couple of those drinks in those special Belmont Stakes glasses, for 2 years in a row. Ask me who was racing. Go ahead. I have no freaking idea.
Now it just so happens that I got married 24 years ago this August so, naturally, there was a shower planned. It was a surprise. I mean I knew I was going to have a shower but I had no idea when. I am not an easy person to fool. I don’t think I have ever been truly surprised in my entire 50 years but that time they almost pulled it off.
It happened like this. Frank told me the Belmont Stakes was a week earlier than it was. I didn’t really pay attention so I was completely clueless that it wasn’t really that day. The plan was the same as the previous year – we’d park the car by my parents’ house and walk over. My parents lived maybe half a mile, tops, from Belmont Park. I was out someplace with Frank, no clue where, and then we pull up in front of the house. Up until that point, I still had no clue. Until I saw a car parked outside belonging to a friend of the family. Then I knew.
Now why they were smart enough to park all the other cars off the block but had that car there is beyond me. Seems kinda stupid but I do give them credit for going as far as they did before I figured it out.
Seems Belmont is pretty packed. I’m sorry but I do not need to be there to see Big Brown win the Triple Crown in person. Not squashed in with a bunch of sweaty, smelly people. Thank you very much but I will watch from my nice comfy couch where the only other sweaty person next to me is Frank.
* * UPDATE * *
Well I guess the trainer & jockey were just a wee bit arrogant, eh? Too bad those other 2 horses didn’t keep up with Da’Tara in the stretch or we’d have won a nice little triple.