Saturday Slight: At the Post

Will it be a musical ending with Mendelssohn? Or a toast of fine wine with Vino Rossi? Or will a 50-1 Lone Sailor float across the finish line first?

At this time, odds are pretty strong that nobody knows who's gonna with today's 144rd running of the Kentucky Derby.

What we do know, though, is that it's gonna be a fun day celebrating, calculating and cheering on our favorites when the horses break from the gates in Louisville in the nation's longest running sports event.

And, here at the Lovestead, our second annual Fine Hats and Jeans gathering will be more than special and even a bit competitive. 

Betting has been added to this year's marathon affair of watching the wonderful stories leading up to the Derby while munching on goodies topped off with carrot cake and ice cream.  

We even have an "off-site" bet on Mendelssohn.  

Is it surprising that Bill, the former music major, would wager on Felix, the composer, before heading to Seattle yesterday in hopes of seeing Felix, the pitcher in the dugot at tonight's Mariners game????

Well, just before leaving the house, he dropped four quarters on the kitchen island.  Later, other guests will bring their dollars to add to the kitty. 

It's a "winner takes all" affair, with ties broken via trivia questions.  Sometime during all this Derby-related activity, we'll find a nice setting for the Group Picture 2018. 

While the Derby stories are running, soccer players will be racing up and down the field at Seattle's Century Link Field aka Clink.  In the audience at the rowdy end, Bill, Willie and Annie will be yelling taunts to the opposing team from Ohio and hoping for a Sounders win.

It's a birthday present day for William E. Love, Jr. and William E. Love III, and, yes, it does include soccer and the evening baseball game.  

I do have a feeling that Bill will be checking his phone in between the events to see if he wins all that Derby cash (almost $20). 

Which brings to mind:  before Bill and Willie left yesterday, Willie handed me a wad of cash---about $8.

"What's this for?" I asked. 

"We decided to give a cash prize for the person who submitted the worst bracket in March Madness," Willie explained.  

Okay, so maybe that one I inadvertently submitted with NO selections was not such a big blooper after all! 

Sometimes ya win.  Sometimes ya lose.  And, sometimes ya win when ya lose!  I like that prospect.

Whatever the case today, there will be a lot of winning and some losing on the track, at the CLINK and on the diamond.

I'm figuring our party, celebrating the GREATEST TWO MINUTES IN SPORTS at the Lovestead is gonna be a winner no matter what!

Happy Derby Day!

And, to our mother aka Behave Yourself (Derby Winner 1921), your spirit will be a part of this day as it always has been.  Miss you.