The Michigan Club Kentucky Derby Party will be held Saturday, May 5th, and I’m already thinking about what I’ll wear.

I just bought the loose polka dot top with trumpet style full sleeves and a round neck which you see to the left. I’ll wear it with a white just-above-the-knee skirt (or skorts).

There are always lots of lovely hats. Mine will be black and very, very wide-brimmed with a large bow matching the polka dot top. (The photo of the bow is on the right.) Maybe I’ll add some artificial rose-colored flowers for color. I don’t expect to win the hat contest. Some are professionally done and will make mine look shabby, but I’ll enjoy participating.

It’s always a super party. I think I’ll volunteer to get the tickets for our friends so we’re sure we can sit with them. It’ll be our last social event before we head north so we want to be able to visit with everyone.

For many years we’ve left early on Sunday, the day after the party, but this year the plan is to hang around until Friday, the 11th. John has a doctor’s appointment on Monday the 7th. We can take our time packing and leave early Friday morning. After overnights in Marietta, GA, and Miamisburg, OH, we should make it to Michigan by Sunday mid-afternoon. Or maybe we’ll add a stop somewhere on our trip back. We do need to be home by the 16th for dental cleanings.

I’m not anxious to go north, but there’s no sense fighting it. I’m already making lists of what we’ll need to take back with us. (And what stuff we’ll leave in Michigan when we come back in October 2018.)

I hope (in October 2018) I can talk John into flying back, get a shuttle from the Tampa airport, and be back here at our place in Kings Point at a decent hour. The plan would be to return between the October 12th and the 16th It won’t matter which day (whichever is cheapest). We’re flexible.

I’d sure like to know what to plan for before we leave in May, but if I can’t get a commitment from John then, I’ll work with that situation and pray he realizes eventually how much better it will be for him. Probably he’ll understand when he drives back in May. He’ll be tired for several days and it’ll take a toll on him. It’s just too much. Let’s hope he understands before it kills him. Stubbornness is hard to fight.