Chukkers for Charity

A couple of weeks ago, Barry introduced to us his method of convincing himself and his friends (mostly his friends) to be adventurous. He told the story of a man who, assuming he would die in his 80's, estimated how many Saturdays he had left in his life. He placed marbles in a jar to represent this estimate. After each Saturday that passed he took a marble out. As the years went by, he watched the number of marbles grow smaller and smaller and he used this as motivation not to waste a single one. So, when Barry asked if we wanted to go to Chukkers for Charity he said, "You don't want to waste your marble!" When we considered it, we realized that the alternative would have most likely involved laundry, cleaning and mowing the grass. Don't want to waste a marble on that!

"Chukkers for Charity" is a polo match/event in Nashville benefiting the Rochelle Center and Saddle up!, both of which are programs that support people with mental and physical disabilities. Barry's aunt and uncle have been a part of this for many years and were generous enough to allow us to tag along. (FYI, a chukker is the name for a period in a polo match.)


After a late start and a long drive Friday, we arrived in Nashville at about 1AM. We had initially planned for Luke to make the trip, but when his Grammy and Paw Paw (Kyle's parents) agreed to pick him up along the way it was hard to refuse. Things are so much more difficult with an infant! And besides, he wouldn't have had fun out in the heat anyway, right? We left Dothan with Canon, Luke and me in the back of the Moss's Sequoia with Deborah and Leslie in the front. At one point, I had a bottle in each hand. That was a small price to pay, though, since Deborah kidnapped Luke for the afternoon so I could get packed and ready! (And I'm still going to keep Canon for a night at the movies, BTW).


Thankfully, the match didn't begin until later so we were able to sleep in. When we did get up we gathered our food and supplies and headed for the fields, passing Alan Jackson's place along the way. The weather was beautiful and HOT! Hearing the horses thunder by was awesome! They rode Thoroughbreds and they were incredible. Before the match we wandered around the fields, looking at the horses and old cars that were there. I wonder if this is the most famous person I will ever have my picture made with...





In case you don't know, that's John Walsh. You know, the guy from America's Most Wanted! Apparently, he is a polo player himself. We're thinking he was named MVP because of his generous donation...


When the match was over and after a good footrace on the polo field, we had dinner in downtown Franklin at the Red Pony. Then, unfortunately, went back to the hotel and went to bed at a decent hour.


The drive home went by much more quickly. Luke caught a ride down with Granmama and Grandaddy (my parents) and when we got home this is what we found:



Click to enlarge and look really close.

It's his first tooth! He is six months already. I just can't believe how fast it goes by.