amy drake / pictures

Staff setting up for an event at the French Lick Springs Resort

(that or the hotel really is haunted!)

Happy cows? Maybe. Happy barn? Definitely.

Weird scarecrow weeds in the pumpkin field. With frost.

Detroit River Walk

Virgil: Who Also Likes the Red Wings

So, on my little Detroit adventure, I wanted to take a picture of a Red Wings fan outside of the Joe Louis Arena, but I couldn’t find anyone wearing anything with the Red Wings logo on it. On my way back from the Joe Louis Memorial, I spotted Virgil. He let me take his picture even though I wouldn’t give him my phone number (I’ve decided to take his asking for my number as a compliment and not a creepy thing - at least not any creepier than me asking a stranger for a photo).

Beverly: A nice lady at the Joe Louis Memorial - Detroit, Michigan

Here’s the story:

I went to Michigan for my cousin’s wedding. When I was checking out the map, I realized we would be really close to Detroit and there would be time to kill the day of the wedding. Some people seemed a little surprised that I wanted to go to Detroit, but they didn’t know two things:

I have come to LOVE the Detroit Red Wings. I considered dropping Nana off at the rehearsal dinner so I could go to a pre-season game, but I am nothing if not a good granddaughter and I was really happy to see the Aussie rellies. So, just getting to see the Joe was my consolation prize.
The Joe Louis Memorial is a Detroit icon and I’ve wanted to see it since I started watching the Red Wings (they show it all the time). See, Joe Louis trained in my home town back during its heyday. I cross the Joe Louis Bridge on a regular basis. I’ve seen news clippings and heard his name in the list of famous people who were here. And that is a beautiful monument.

Nana and I didn’t have much time to get to Detroit and back and to the wedding on time. We parked at the Joe Louis Arena and Nana decided to stay in the car. I walked around taking pictures (nothing great) and thinking, “The memorial has to be around here somewhere.” I decided to take a chance and ask a stranger.

Beverly wasn’t entirely sure where the memorial is located and decided to walk with me. We chatted about the controversy surrounding its design and how we both thought it was a great way to honor both the man and the city. We talked a bit about Detroit.

In short, Beverly was a wonderful ambassador for her city and I asked to take this photo to remember her. I only wish I had asked for her email address so I could send her a copy.

Joe Louis Memorial - Detroit, Michigan

There’s a story about this.

Out by Kings Bridge (where you can see the middle of nowhere and most of the Big Dipper).

Love. (pardon my cliché)

Hey, you can see a little of the Big Dipper at the top.

Kentucky Horse Park (5 of 5)

I eavesdropped a little while the trainer talked to this guy. It sounded like he didn’t have a very good ride. He walked away and took a moment with his horse.