“What is a moment in time?
That really depends on the time line that you are using.
If you are thinking about the time line of the age of the universe then our entire life is a moment in time.
If we are thinking about moments during our lifetime then it has a completely new meaning.
Is it the moment that we are waiting for the buzzer to go off during a ball game with our team leading?
Is it the moment when we step back and access our lives by trying to determine wha tis important and what is not?
Is it the moment our country went to war?
The moment we called a truce?
The moment man walked on the moon?
The moment JFK was assassinated?
The moment the terrorists hit the twin towers?
Is it the moment that we started school?
The moment we graduated?
The moment we married?
The moments our children were born?
The moment we lost a loved one?
We are asking what are the moments we remember.” Barnstable Brown Brochure --- The Gala benefits the Barnstable Brown Diabetes and Obesity Center at the University of Kentucky.
The whole day at the Downs was overwhelming with new experiences.... the people watching, the food, the beautiful horses..... a quiet night in might be just what the doctor ordered, but that was not to be... fortunately!
Angel had somehow gotten us tickets on the internet for the Barnstable Brown Benefit Party. The Taste of the Derby, was a “red carpet” affair.. this was a “Red Carpet” Affair WITH celebrities, good food, and raising money for a good cause.
After going back to our hotel, we only had about 40 minutes to get ready, I don’t ever want a man to know that I can actually get a shower, dry my hair and fix it, put on makeup and get all dolled up in that short of time. Supposed to keep them in the dark, aren’t we? It actually took me about 45 minutes to get red carpet ready.
Angel and I took off and found our way to the Barnstable Brown Gala -- a Derby Eve party...Patricia Barnstable Brown and Priscilla Barnstable, the Doublement Twins and their mother, Willie, and Patricia’s son, Chris Brown -- were the hosts.
I wasn’t really prepared for what we ended up at. When we got near the house, people were walking around. They were walking to the area where the party was.
enterprising young kids
When we saw a satellite truck we knew we were in for something special.
We weren’t supposed to bring a camera in, but we took some shots before we arrived. There was a crowd gathered outside to watch who was arriving ... us of course ;)
The house was up on a big hill, and they had lit up arches outside you could see from the road. When we pulled up, the police officers showed us where the valets were. Never in my born days did I ever think I would have to gracefully exit a vehicle except for when I was on a date. But surprise surprise I had to channel my Julie Andrews (after seeing a few movie premieres in Hollywood, my sister and I determined she was the most graceful exiting a limo). As gracefully as I could in my black lace mini dress I exited the Tahoe we were driving. All I could think at the time was, thank goodness I was not going to be Brittney Spears, I was wearing underwear. Our valet was a cute little blonde UK student.
After entering the party they gave us yet again another wristband, I forgot we had gotten a wristband for our outside seats, and our inside seats and now we had one for our uptown shindig. Someone is making a killing in Louisville this weekend off wristbands. (I think we even got one at the Taste of the Derby too.)
At the entrance was the “important” people red carpet area -- and we were guided on to the hill to the main house. It was a steep drive way and they had set up a stage with “dancers” and music. These “dancers” were probably found in a gentlemen’s club down the road. I didn’t realize we might be going to a Hugh Hefner type party (we weren’t).
At the top of the hill, there were young ladies with trays of blue and pink champagne looking drinks -- Hpnotiq and Hpnotiq Harmonie. I selected the pink Harmonie -- delicious and refreshing (no, mom, I wasn’t driving back).
There was a line of people filing up the stairs to the house. So we just got in line with the rest of them. Some very nice girls were behind us. I asked them if they knew what we were supposed to do. They laughed and told us they didn’t know either and were just about to ask us. (My, I looked like I might know what I am supposed to do at a fancy pants party... Country come to town.)
On the stairs you could see the bottom of the hill and the “real” red carpet and hear screams and shrieks coming from the crowd, I guessed some famous person had arrived.
At the top of the stairs Angel and I took photos on the “reddish pink” carpet. Vineyard Vines was one of the sponsors and they were taking the photos for the regular guests.
There were people gathered at the front door and little silver booklets. Angel and I choose to wander around the house and check out the situation. The first room was a parlor with French looking furniture - reproductions, maybe but maybe not. This lead onto a black and white tiled hallway with a mirrored ceiling there was a opening where you could see the indoor pool. The pool room was dark and the pool was lit up with flowers placed in the middle.
We could see a “tented” city outside and found the food. People were lining up. So we joined again. The ground was soft and a little muddy. My spiky heels were not made for this terrain. While in line us ladies were commiserating about standing on the balls of our feet so we didn’t sink.
The food table had printed out labels for the food -- very fancy and assumes all the patrons can read. Ladyfingers was the caterer and the Kentucky Hot Brown Chicken (stuffed with bacon, tomatoes and mornay sauce, was excellent. They also had the obligatory Kentucky corn pudding, grits and whipped chive potatoes (why these were listed as vegetables I don’t know). And they had some healthy grilled asparagus too.
On the tables they had bottles of liquor and champagne for the partygoers to pop on their on. Lots of tables and friendly looking people but we ended up sitting with the nice girls we had met on the stairs.
Turns out they were a hoot and we hung out most of the night -- a curly headed blond pediatrician in a very short pretty green sequined cocktail dress; a Brandon, Mississippi blond whose stupid ex-husband had ended up with a Waffle House waitress; her sister, a statuesque ER doctor who liked to travel as much as I did; and their very bubbly and hysterical sister in law from Pensacola. They were all tall and pretty except the pediatrician she was short like me, but looked like a model too. We were having fun and opened one of those bottles of champagne too. The party planners had set up a screen on the edge of the tent that showed the “celebrities” as they arrived. We found in our booklet the names of the folks that were supposed to be there.
Mrs. Pensacola and I were very excited to see Kid Rock (but sadly he didn’t show). Funnily enough I didn’t recognize many of the peoples’ names -- lots of sports people, how is an LSU girl like me supposed to know there was a UK basketball team? Just kidding, I have heard of the University of Kentucky powerhouse basketball team.
After eating, Angel and I wandered through the rest of the house. She almost turned her ankle by the pool, lawsuit waiting to happen.
We ended up on the second level, up yet another stone stairway (only a few this time), standing on the edge of the dance floor. We noticed there was another seating area, but this area had a guard -- the “famous” people were in there trying to eat peacefully.
Actually the party was kind of boring, we were just standing around in our high heels watching people. We could see Paul Schaffer from the letterman show and his big white glasses at his table. Some really good looking younger guys were standing around so that made the view fun -- they were very very very very tall -- UK basketball players it turned out.
One of the hostesses -- a Doublement Twin walked by -- she was very pretty but you could tell she had some “work” done. Of course she was a size 0 and had big ass jewelry around her neck, wrists and fingers.
Also near us was a very petite pretty blond lady in a beautiful evening gown. Of all the gowns we had seen yet (and there were some spectacular ones here) this was the prettiest and I told her so. She struck up a conversation with us -- Lady Costa -- she is a regular to this party and gave us the lowdown. We decided upon her expert advice that this might be “the” place to be.
We gathered up closer to the front and our dinner companion friends showed up on the dance floor to hang out with us again. Mrs. Pensacola said she had seen Emmitt from Twlight. No I didn’t know which one he was, but I texted my sister and she started texting me back and sent me pictures and orders to GET A PICTURE. Sorry, Princess, I didn’t get to see him in person.
More people watching because more people ended up on the dance floor. I felt like a total midget as most of the ladies were so tall. Do they not have short people in Kentucky?
We noticed that there were police officers following around some of the ladies holding their handbags. I thought Savage would die -- having to carry someone’s handbag was not in his repertoire. We figured out those were the “famous” people’s handlers.
Lady Costa had told us that the singers and musicians would come out and play. So we stood our ground so to speak. I don’t know how street walkers stand on concrete in those heels for as long as they do. At some point we all left our shoes on the sidelines (who was going to steal my little shoes when they had Jimmy Choos and Manolo Blahniks).
Good thing we stayed, I almost swooned when Clay Walker (one of my favorite country singers) came out on the stage to sing. Let’s just say that man is aging well and his voice is awesome.
Then the queen appeared ---- I knew I had arrived when Mary Wilson of the Supremes came out in a beautiful brown bustier dress (remember this is a 68 year old woman) and a kickass necklace singing "You Can't Hurry Love".
Paul Schaffer was next and he rocked.
Travis Tritt came out and belted out my favorite song of his -- T-R-O-U-B-L-E.
Taylor Dayne came out too
I could party like this all night long. We were dancing and cheering. When we talked we had to yell. There was a tall couple (land of the giants for me) beside us and she had an awesome silver sequined dress on).
Lady Costa had made her way to the front right at the stage, for a little bitty thing she could maneuver her way through a throng of people.
We had one of the official photographers beside us, a very nice lady and she told us a secret -- wear comfortable shoes :) Her name was Phoebe and she took awesome photos. I was very impressed with her work.
Boys to Men came out and then one of my favorites (ie from my generation) Run DMC -- I think it was just the D from the group -- Darryl. Phoebe and I looked him up on my iPhone (gotta love that new technology). Joey Fantone came out to join them. Tricky tricky tricky... Walk this Way.... I could have danced the whole night.
Our dinner companions were having fun too. They had been flirting with all those very tall boys -- I think the sister in law was trying to hook the ER doc up.
It started to pour down rain and lightening. They even had a break in the tents in the “famous” people area.
I had met the guy who put up the tents (it took him a week he said). Though he looked very trustworthy, all I could visualize were the tents splitting and water pouring through and the lighting equipment falling on our heads like in a movie. Not happening so we trudged down the stairs (without our shoes) and into the house (later to find out that there was possibly broken glass in our path).
the drainage wasn't what it should be
beautiful roses
Inside the house lots of partygoers had gathered because they couldn’t leave. We had not gotten wet but we were tired. I felt like I do when I go out on Bourbon and have a good night - your legs are sore from dancing, your feet hurt from the concrete and standing, and you can barely talk from the conversations.
The one room we had not hit that evening was the “dessert” room. As we were in line for Kentucky Ice Cream -- they had a bourbon flavored one. A very nice lady was behind us. I turned around and it was Mary Wilson. OMG, I am not normally speechless as you know, but all I could think was OMG that is Mary Wilson. Angel and the peace of mind to compliment her on her performance. Then I finally found my voice and did so also. She was a very very gracious lady and spoke to us. We discussed the different kinds of ice cream. Why we didn’t have sense enough to ask her for a picture with us I don’t know. Maybe it is because we are not used to being around famous people.
After getting spoons (on the other side of the room -- weird set up). We were chatted up by a Physicist and a Mortician -- only I could find this pair in a crowd. The Physicist was from Phoenix but had lived in Dallas before and started prattling on about teaching retired FBI agents in DC. I wanted to say, Dude, I almost flunked football Physics at Baylor I have no idea what you are talking about. But he was so nice I just smiled and looked interested.
While we were standing there waiting on the rain to subside (so we could leave as it was getting late). Run DMC started milling around the room and one of the members (the disc jockey) came over to get some cake (which before it had been cut was a massive replica of Churchill Downs. Angel, being the gracious hostess she is, cut him a piece of cake.
The rain looked like it wasn’t ever going to stop so we decided to brave the tent action again. As we were walking through the hall we almost ran slap into Cyndi Lauper (she had been the Grand Marshall of the Pegasus Parade the day before). She was so little bitty -- not what I expected -- she didn’t have orange hair either. I don’t think she performed. That would have been one to see for sure.
Famous people there we didn't see "in" person-- Ashton Kutcher, Miranda Lambert, Aaron Rodgers, Erin Andrews, Andre Agassi, and Steffi Graf.... etc. But Mary Wilson still was the best even out of that line up.
When we got back outside, Montgomery from Montgomery Gentry was up there singing with someone I had no idea who he was. The good looking UK basket ball player beside us didn’t know either. If you recognize him please let me know, we are curious. He had really white teeth.
I was not overly impressed with Montgomery, he kept going on about being drunk for 3 days straight. Really, get some dignity man, we are at a party where these ladies dresses and jewelry cost more than what some folks make in a year.
A little guy walked out on the stage and you would have thought Elvis had appeared, it was Joker Phillips (found out later he was the UK coach).
We decided that the rain had subsided enough we could make a run or a scoot for it. Remember we had come up a very steep driveway -- now to go back down it in our high heels with the ground wet. It was still drizzling out and I was very glad I had made it to the bottom and the tent there. I felt like a drowned rat and my poor little rose in my hair was drenched too.
Oddly enough the cute little blonde valet was the one who was going to collect our car. He whispered to me that he would get it quick for us. There was a crush of people there waiting for either the valet pick up or their hired limos.
The celebrities started coming out again and Mary Wilson asked if we liked our ice cream. She got in her car right before our showed up. Yes, cutie pie had brought ours out before all those other peoples. I guess being nice helps.
As we were driving back at 2:45 a.m. Angel started talking about this being the greatest day of her life -- the Oaks and this awesome party. She always talks about Moments in Time and this definitely was one. Little did we know in our booklet was the poem I printed at the top (we read it on our way home a few days later). Prophetic to say the least..... Barnstable Brown Gala you were a hit and a memorable travel experience. I really don't know if Derby Day can top today.....
The whole life of man is but a point of time; let us enjoy it. Plutarch
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