Rosy Dreams
Some dream of running for the roses; others of arranging them
Aspiring florists
in Louisville dream of jobs
at Kroger, so they
might one day sew roses on
the Derby winner’s blanket.
This tanka was inspired by my family’s recent vacation in Louisville, KY. After being cooped up for over a year, working and going to school remotely due to the pandemic, we were glad to be able to take our fully-vaccinated selves on a bit of adventure. We’re lucky enough to live in a place that is a short drive from lots of different major cities, and now that one of my teenagers is old enough to share the driving duties, vacation is even more of a vacation for me. As a parent, part of me aches that they’re nearly adults, but another part deeply appreciates the assistance they could never have provided as small children.
Our collective favorite experience of the trip was a tour of Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby, coupled with a tour of Hermitage Farm, which provides a nursery for thoroughbred horses, many of which have been champions. We were lucky to have very knowledgeable young ladies as tour guides at both locations, and so we collected lots of fun facts as well as memories that we’ll always treasure.
