LAUREL COUNTY, Ky. — Loretta and I don’t get away much anymore.  A big night out for us usually involves the closest Cracker Barrel and the last matinee at a Cinemax.  9 p.m. is a late bed time for us these days, and neither of us are comfortable driving after dark.   

But last Friday night we accepted an invitation to be overnight guests of the London Sentinel Echo at the annual Kentucky Press Association awards banquet.  Held at the Embassy Suites in Lexington, the evening promised to be fun and to allow me to rub elbows with journalists from across the state that I hadn’t seen or been in touch with for more than a decade.  Loretta was concerned as to when dinner would start and whether the whole thing would be over by 9.  

I had been notified that my column had won second place in the “ best column” category and I had lamented to Publisher Willie Sawyers and to Managing Editor Carrie Dillard that my favorite columnist in any paper, anywhere, Tara Kaprowy, should have won first place.  And I had determined that I would mark out my name and send the certificate to Tara with whom I share Page 3 of The Sentinel Echo every Friday.  My note was going to be, “Hey Girl, you should have won first place but we did something and it should have been you.”

It’s probably not fair to Tara but I consider us a team, and she is the point guard on the page we call our own in The Sentinel Echo. If anything is really worth reading twice, Tara wrote it, and God knows I so admire her.

So we pigged out on a very nice dinner and wine and sat with the news staff of The Sentinel Echo, table-to-table with the Richmond Register, which also carries my column when they have space that the obits do not consume.   And Loretta whispered to me, “you are back in your element.”  

And I said, “Yeah, I think so, but I forget.”   Because I do remember and forget, and this getting old thing is getting old.  

Anyway, we had dinner and they started making the announcements of the awards and when they got to our category, Tara won first place!  I didn’t even know that she was nominated but I stood up at our table, defying politeness, and yelled, YES!!!” and my guilt complex soothed away. And I felt more joy than I have felt in a long, long time.  The judges got it right!  Tara won first place!  My guilt melted and I stole a glance and a wink at Carrie.  She had kept it secret.  Yes, all over again.

Tara Kaprowy was not at the big event but when somebody wanted to take a picture of the Sentinel Echo group, I put Tara’s first place trophy on my chest.  I am oh so proud, and I often wonder if it is realistic for an old timer to be a protégé of an up-and-comer.   I sorta think I am one.

Anyway, Loretta was anxious to do whatever was necessary to close down the dinner and the celebration and get into her pajamas by 9 p.m., and I promised her we would do just that.  And then the incredible band, Superfecta, started playing all the Motown of our youth.

Long story short, Loretta and I closed down the band after midnight with a few newfound friends, and we have never done that before.  We feel young all over again.

Thank you, Willie Sawyers, for the hospitality and the absolute delight!                  



ikeadams@aol.com