Another Kentucky Derby Primer

SI.com’s Tim Layden has the Q&D for the race tomorrow. I will post my Mint Julep recipe later.

Hey Mister, are those flowers real?

Well, today is Ilsa’s birthday. It seems like yesterday when she was this quiet girl who was stand-offish. Now she plays soccer, does ballet, sits on my lap, and holds my hand. It’s one thing to have a nine year old, but to have a daughter who is 6, well, that’s a trip.

Two years ago I gave Ilsa flowers at preschool on her birthday. Since then my girls have come to expect it. (I know I set the bar high, and I like it that way. To the boys between 3 and 10, I’m setting the bar high so you will have to be a man of God with honor to get their attention.) Going into today, I had not heard much flower talk from Ilsa.

There was however, a new wrinkle this year. Her Kindergarten teacher is a warm person, but she plays it pretty close to the vest. I was leery of interrupting her class. (Like there aren’t enough interruptions of a K5 class.)

I picked up the flowers from Locker’s, went into school, and waited quietly by the door as they finished their devotion songs. The flowers were hid behind a board, but my presence slowly caught the attention of more of the class. Her teacher motioned me into the room where there I stood with the flowers. Ilsa knows the drill; so she came up, gave me a hug, and took the flowers. I wished her a happy birthday, and for the first time ever, didn’t cry. Of course she loved them. For all of you who wonder if flowers are too much for a six year old, I invite you to join me next time and look at the faces of my daughter, her teacher, and her classmates (especially the girls).

Her teacher told me she knew I was coming. I asked if Ilsa told her. “No, the class told me this happens every year.” Get that – now her class expects it! How cool. She gratefully took our picture with a smile. The kids kept asking if the flowers were for real, and her teacher answered in the affirmative. Apparently one boy didn’t hear, because he said “Hey mister, are those flowers for real?” Below is a photo of the birthday girl and her dad.