As an alumni of the University of Kentucky, Mom sure loves Wildcat basketball! In fact, especially between the months of October and March, you'll most likely find her wearing blue and white and sporting some sort of Wildcat item (such as buttons, hairbows, earrings etc.) She's been accused of having nothing but Wildcat clothes in her wardrobe because she is most often seen in one of her many Wildcat T-shirts. What can we say, the lady loves the Wildcats!

Mom has always believed in volunteering to improve your community, and that the rewards for this will come as God sees fit. Well, in 1994 Mom was volunteering with the March of Dimes for their annual WalkAmerica. She had been put in charge of entertainment and had set out to make this the best walk ever. During the course of preparations, she happened upon some interesting information... the University of Kentucky Wildcats were allowed to come to charitable events to sign autographs! Don't you think she didn't just pounce on that information! She was able to arrange for the team players who were not previously committed to come to the 1995 WalkAmerica. She just couldn't wait till walk day!

When WalkAmerica rolled around, Mom was so excited she was about to bust! She buzzed around checking people in, arranging her performers and such and generally making herself busy. At about half past ten, she felt a tap on her shoulder and turned to find herself face to face (well actually more like face to chest) with Tony Delk, Andre Riddick and Anthony Epps!

"I think you are the lady we're supposed to be meeting here." said Tony Delk. "They told us to look for someone with lots of blonde hair, and you have more than anyone here!"

Of course Mom was speechless... all she could do was nod and smile. After regaining her composure, she introduced herself and lead them to the table where they would be signing autographs. The best part was that there was a fourth chair there, right next to theirs, which was for Mom to sit with them! Boy, was she a happy camper! For the next two hours they chatted and goofed off (Andre kept marking on her arms and legs with his pen, Tony kept wandering off to watch the magician and Anthony told jokes) I didn't think she'd ever stop smiling! But all good things must come to an end. Before leaving, they took one of the WalkAmerica T-shirts and autographed it for Mom, but instead of giving it to her they told her they were going to take it back with them and get the whole team to sign it! To this day, it is one of Mom's prized possessions... it sits right next to her Rick Pitino autographed Wildcat basketball. She just loves to tell that story!

No one was any happier the night that Kentucky won the 1996 National Championship either! I'll tell you, everyone within earshot (and believe me, there were lots of them) knew they had won because they could hear her yelling. She was on the phone with Aunt Kerri, who was watching the game with her in Seattle, and they were both going crazy! Neither of them could talk very well the next day... gee, go figure.

Mom and Aunt Kerri were at it again last year when Kentucky made it to the Championship game once again. Neither of them had ever expected them to get that far with the injuries the team had suffered, and they were so proud! It was such a surprise! They had hoped for a repeat, but it wasn't in the cards this year. It didn't matter, Mom and Aunt Kerri were just as happy to see them return to the championship game against all odds. That just goes to show you what team spirit and heart can do!

The 1997-98 season was a wonderful surprise for everyone here in Kentucky! With it being Tubby Smith's first season as head coach, and losing so many great players as they opted to head for the NBA draft, there weren't many at all who expected this National Championship. Even Mom was very skeptical at the beginning of the season! But as the tournament grew closer, Mom had them picked (once again) as National Champions.

And of course, when the chance arose during the tournament to finally even the score with Duke, well, that was just the GREATEST! Roofs all over Kentucky raised simultaneously when the final buzzer sounded, while mouths that had, just seconds before, been whispering the hymm "Please, not again... please, not again" were now screaming in exuberance!

And next to her Mom, yelling just as loudly, was little Nicki. She couldn't jump around as much though... you see, just the night before she had fallen and broken her arm. It was in a splint, resting in a sling... waiting for surgery. When the crawler came across the bottom of the screen announcing that the Wildcats would be arriving back in town in about four hours, Nicki, Mom and Jessie headed for the airport. They were among the first fifty there, which put them right at the fence... that's where the problem began. As the crowd grew bigger, they found themselves being pressed harder and harder against the fence. Poor Nicki!

Along came a very kind security policeman, and he took Mom, Nicki and Jessie inside the clubhouse! When the Wildcats arrived, they got to go right out onto the runway and meet them all... in fact, the entire team, as well as Coach Smith, signed Nicki's sling! She became an instant celebrity, to say the least... she was on the news and in the newspapers all over Kentucky. Here is the picture that they ran in the Lexington Herald-Leader. They spelled her name wrong, but it was still great!

I'll bet she was never so glad to be injured in her life!

It was a wonderful season, and the thrills will last as long as the stories are retold. Thank you! Thank you! to the Wildcats and Coach Smith! And Congratulations on such a memorable year!

If you happen to notice these pages don't get updated as frequently in the fall and winter, just check to see if it's basketball season... that's when you'll find Mom glued to the television with her pom-poms inhand.