a weekend of firsts

This past memorial day weekend was the first time that I saw Paps headstone.  I thought that it turned out really well.  The front has Mom and Dad's wedding picture etched on it.  I love this because when my boys take their families there their great-grandchildren and beyond will be able to see what their Mammy and Paps looked like.

Mom and Dad's stone sits in front of her sister's husband and grandson's stones.  You can see Evan looking Derrick's stone in the background.  Derrick was Evan's age when he died.  He was driving on a country road and swerved to miss a dog and hit a tree.  It still doesn't seem real.

This is the back of the stone.  The picture of Christ was put on there because Todd's dad always carried this same picture in his wallet...my boys do the same:)  Todd's mom always says, "Take God with you", when we part and I have peace knowing that they do in more ways than one.  Thanks Pappaw:)

It was also the first time that I experienced dining in a suite at Hoosier Park.  Tom and Karen are part owners of Wayne the Lefty.  Their horse made the cut to race in the Hoosier Cup race at Hoosier Park!  We dined in the suite, walked to the holding area to see the horses before they raced, and experienced the thrill of winning (Todd won a trifecta...Paps would've loved it!).  When you are with owners you are treated like royalty.  Free food and drinks...really, anything your little heart desires.

Then it was off to a more familiar Indiana track for yet another first.  The tennis team earned money by picking up trash at the Indy 500 track the day after the race.  In the above picture you can see the grand stand section of the bleachers.  We were responsible for cleaning up four sections which is about the last 1/4 section under the over hang to the track fence and to the track road (back side of bleachers) to where the overhang stops.  I am waiting on some pictures of that great fun filled beer smellin' chicken pickin' up day! When I get them I will post. 

We picked up aluminum cans first and then raked, and swept all of the chicken, newspapers, diapers, peanut shells etc. to the isles and bagged it.  Our last sweep up and down the rows was with a leaf blower to assure we got all trash up. We arrived there at 7:00am and left at 12:30 pm.  We hope to raise around $1,200!

I guess it was worth the beer can full of pee that spilled on my leg and shoes...Hey Tom, could you be part owner of an Indy car so I can just chuck my chicken leg on the ground and leave?