I pulled out all my hats in preparation for CARE’s Kentucky Derby watch party, held at the home of Patti and Ken Gregory of Charleston. Dana Clolinger, director of CARE, was hosting this lively fundraiser and I was going to represent the West Side in style.
I have been spending my days highly invested in the royals of the UK and watching daily to see what troubles that so-called queen was up to and admiring Princess Catherine’s hats and style. I promise you, I’m going to start wearing hats to church just as soon as I find the right pillbox.
Anyway, I bought 80,000 yards of ribbon at Walmart and invested a few more minutes watching John Mark make bows on my phone like he does for wreaths. My bow would have looked lovely for a wreath, I promise, but not so much for a hat as it sat up like a chicken.
Then I got baskets and balanced them upside down on my head. I’m not gonna spoil that idea in case I use it next year.
After consulting with my friend who couldn’t go with me, she liked my simple pink hat with the brass horse in front and the one simple ribbon bow on the side. It was a petite hat like Her Royal Highness wears, so I was happy and it would match my new dress that I ordered from someplace that said “Made in USA” but shipped from some remote village not on a map. It didn’t arrive in time. It was supposed to arrive Monday, said my shipping notice. Yay! Let’s bet it fits a kindergarten child.
I was determined to go to this party alone if I had to because who knows when I’m gonna be all I have. I’m so glad I did. Those folks on the East Side are so delightful and polite with manners. They kept introducing me around and including me.
I made it known I don’t remember names much, but they didn’t mind. I had fun and truly felt comfortable and relaxed. I’m thinking it had a lot to do with the home of Patti and Ken, as every little detail was comfortable and homey.
OK, this is the truth: I’m really an introvert most times unless I’m being in charge, then I’m normal. Patti had quiet places I could wander off to and watch the pre-derby stuff and let my brain hide out. Then I could go back and join the gang on the porch or upstairs and see more decorations and art, much of which Patti painted.
On her front porch, she had a very tall ceiling with about 3 feet of wall space above the screens. Patti had taken these grapevine wreath sorta things and unwound them in graceful loops to fill in that 3-foot space. For a finishing touch, she wrapped fairy white lights into the loops and curves. Ken said she had to do it twice because of a lighting mishap.
You know, I believe one of the things that made me feel most comfortable is the way Ken spoke so highly of his wife. Every time I noticed some special decorative touch, he gave all the credit to the lady he married.
I’m gonna force myself to return next year. If it’s in someone else’s house, I’ll still know some of those East Side folks’ faces anyway. I just love y’all.
