The Kentucky Derby
May 2nd, 2009
I love watching The Kentucky Derby and dream of being there sometime! Today’s Kentucky Derby has me glued to the TV. I’ve been sitting here in my Lazy-Boy watching all the fanfare, and it occurred to me; there are similarities between The Kentucky Derby and funerals, specifically traditional funerals. People get all dressed up – the ladies even wear hats like ladies used to. My wife used to wear hats on special occasions – I loved that. One of my sisters-in-law wore a hat to Yvonne’s funeral, which she woulda loved! There are so many traditions, like those famous Mint Juleps, the bugle call, etc. It’s like a ritual. I mean… can you even imagine The Kentucky Derby without these things? There’s that captivating pomp & circumstance much like a good, traditional funeral.
Once in a while, someone will tell me that funerals aren’t what they used to be – that they don’t even feel like they’ve been to a funeral. When that happens, it’s because it lacks ritual – it lacks traditional elements – it lacks pomp & circumstance. There really is a lot to be said for ritual.
‘And they’re off!’ Oops, gotta go – it started! I wonder which horse will win… remember; the winner gets a traditional blanket of roses much like a casket spray of roses! That always kinda tops it off, huh? Just one more thing; those beautiful twin spires reminds me of all the beautiful church steeples!
