Fascinating, This Age Thing: Time, Events, Histories, Stories, and Well, The Great Whatever

Yesterday, in the middle of my day, I got a text from Chitunga with two photographs - the Kentucky Derby winner of 1972 and the Kentucky Derby Winner the year he was born.

1995. Thunder Gulch. I remember that vividly. Why? It was the year after I graduated from SUNY Binghamton and began my teaching certification in Kentucky. I can't remember if I went to the track for the actual race or if I went to a party (it used to be affordable and I think this might have been the year that Judy and I went - maybe that was 1996).

Either way, I remember the race. The year Thunder Gulch won was the same year Chitunga was born.

Meanwhile, in 1972, Riva Ridge was the winner. I had no idea about that trivia, but the kid texted me the winners from our birth years. Pretty amazing. I have vivid memories of my Kentucky life the year he was born and he's making vivid memories in 2018 as he walks through my ol' stomping grounds with Sue. It's pretty amazing to think about and to put into Kentucky Derby perspectives. Every year a horse race and only one winner. That winner gets the glory.

Meanwhile, 1972 turns to 1982 turns to 1990 turns to 1994 turns to 1998 turns to 2007 turns to 2012 turns to 2018. It all flies by and suddenly you see that this kid - this wonderful kid - is walking the trail of your history trying to piece together meaning for his own life (and in 108 degree weather).

I just shake my head and let what will be, be. It's beautiful the way the sequencing occurs even when we don't even realize that is what is occurring.

I've always felt a magical draw to the Kentucky Derby Museum and I'm so glad he was able to enjoy it with Sue (sad that there wasn't the bourbon tours back in my day to follow afterwards)

Okay, it's Friday. It's hot. Strorms are on the way and I need to get a good night of sleep. Here's to the race...the one that is much more severe than the two-minute race of the Derby and the one that is more a marathon for the entire lifetime. 1972....1995...23 years. Yup, that's about right.