My hubby just got out of the hospital after a trying week. One thing that did help his recuperation was watching Travers Day from our comfortable chairs.
I wanted to bet a couple of the races, so Augie said he'd take my wagers. It wasn't the same as if I was there, but it certainly made the day a little better for both of us.
I bet four races including the Travers itself, but they are still running. As any good husband would say, you don't need to pay me. But what he doesn't know I would have taken his money if I had won.
When unfortunate things happen you have to make the best of it.
So, no matter what comes your way - and at our ages they seem to come more often - you have to make the best of the situations.
Here's a toast to NYRA and Saratoga Race Course for putting on some of the best races I've see in a long time. And, besides, I love watching the crowds from my family room lounge chair instead of bumping elbows.
Congratulations to one marvelous city and all the goings on that make it wonderful for visitors and  residents. Of course, there are always some who complain about the traffic and busy restaurants.
But instead of complaining we should all be thankful that our economy is going strong, unlike many, many communities that are not.

Today is my first born's birthday. That was 59 years ago and although she looks - obviously - older than she did at birth she's far younger looking than her 59 years. And, that's the truth.
I remember that day so well. At the time, my husband Augie and of course Carol's dad, were living in a small apartment above my parents.
My water broke in the middle of the night and the only thing that came to mind was at last the day has arrived. We didn't know back then whether it was a boy or a girl. We just knew we were excited.
Early morning with just twinges of pain, I came down into my mother's kitchen to tell her she would be a grandmother soon. She was sooo happy. She had also made blueberry muffins. She was a great baker, but since I tried to watch my weight I hadn't eaten much of her goodies during the pregnancy.
I said: "Oh, boy I can have a muffin. In fact, I had two."
Before long, I told my hubby to get ready it was time to go. I really didn't know what to expect. But, I'm proud to say I gave birth without any drugs. Carol Denise Jordan - now Will - weighed 6 lbs. 1 oz. Small compared to today's babies.
But she was the most beautiful little girl you ever saw: dark - almost black - hair with olive skin. She looked just like her daddy. You would never know I had anything to do with it.
Happy birthday my beautiful daughter. You are as beautiful today as you were 59 years ago. The only difference is your mom and dad have aged, but as I said previously it's a day I'll never, never forget.
How could I, you turned out just as any mother and father would have wished for.
Maybe we did have something to do with it.

When someone does a job they enjoy for 25 years, you are bound to make some friends. But on this past Tuesday (July 31) I didn't realize how many.
Nancy Kelly, who is the strongest force in making the Fashionable Fillies luncheon a success each year, made it a very special day for me, as well.
Nancy is the executive director of The Jockey Club Safety Net Foundation, a charitable trust that provides, on a confidential basis, financial relief and assistance to individuals who are the backbones of the thoroughbred racing industry - grooms, hot walkers, night watchmen, jockeys and exercise riders, for example.
When she called me a couple of months ago to tell me they wanted to honor me at this year's luncheon, I was stunned. "You've done so much for us over the years getting our message out," she said. Of course, I accepted.
After all being a society columnist for The Saratogian had its perks and I certainly don't mean financial ones. The rewards were even better. Over the course of those many years of writing Inside Saratoga I made many close friends. My goals when I started writing it were to make people happy and to help organizations get their messages out in positive ways.
I must add that I am not a negative person, so it came easier for me to reach my goals, as well.
 I can not express in words how I felt Tuesday when the crowd of 150 or so ladies stood and applauded me after I had been given a magnicent bouquet of red roses from the co-chairwoman of the event, Maureen Lewi. She is also a friend - along with her husband, Ed - that I would most likely never had had the pleasure of being able to call them friends. The list goes on. Ed's nickname for me is Bare Facts. I'll tell you how that came about some day.
I am sure the women (the Toga Tattlers), who took over my position after I retired in late November of 2011, will feel the same way some day.
Thank you everyone who ever read my column. I will never forget those wonderful years and the people who made it a better and different life for me.