The Lighting Of The Flame

The Lighting Of The Flame

 

 

 

OK – Readers –  I really thought hard about how to do this and after much consideration, I think the diary style will probably work best as I can update it as needed.  When you are as old as I am, it is very hard to rely on your memory – for anything.  So here we go:

 

It wasn’t too long ago that I received a phone call from the Equinics committee telling me I had been chosen to light the flame for the 2016 Equinics – in Rio!  To be honest I about fell over from shock and then I was sure it was some prankster, but it turned out to be the real deal and after blubbering my acceptance I hung up, did a happy dance and started making lists. You know the kind – what to take, what to wear, how to get there, what I could get through the airport security, and I had to find my passport, dust it off and make sure it was still valid.

 

I haven’t gone on an overseas trip since I went to Europe ( many years ago, before airport security is as it is now) so I figured the best person to ask for advice was Emmy. She is a wealth of knowledge on just about everything but I didn’t want to call her right away because as you all know, she does talk a lot and I had so much to do.

 

Those of you with animals know what it is like to try and go anywhere, so that’s where I started – with the animals!  First, I had to call the dog/cat/house/horse sitter that I usually use and naturally she wasn’t available for the days I needed her – the 4^th, 5^th and 6^th of August.  So, I started in on my friends and after several calls, I finally found one that could do all three days and part of the next. Remember with three cats, three horses and two dogs this was not an easy task and while sitters have certainly bypassed the minimum wage – boy are they worth it!

 

Okay, clothes.  I hadn’t gone anywhere of any importance in so long, I didn’t have much to wear – well, that’s not entirely true – I had clothes for the races on Saturday but what did one wear to receive the torches and light a big fire? Should they be non-combustible – I mean I might drop the torch – God forbid.  I didn’t want to wear a long dress because I might trip and pant suits reminded me of you-know-who.  Such a quandary!  Maybe, I should put clothes on the getting longer list to ask  Emmy.

 

The Equinics had taken care of my horse shipping and they (all three) had all left two weeks earlier.   I left them in the capable hands of the grooms, trusting them to get them to their residency stalls.  My grooms are the best and while I don’t always have the best runners – by golly when those runners hit the track, they at least look like stake horses!

 

Next I had to write lists for the dog/cat/horse/house sitter, of things to do, lists of what to feed the animals, lists of emergency numbers, (jeeze, you would think I was going for a month instead of a few days) lists to remind me of the order in which to do things, lists to remind me to make lists and the longest list of all – what to ask Emmy.

 

So now, it was finally time for the big phone call to Emmy.  I calculated the time difference and I knew she did luncheons, and teas and liked to go to the races and the casinos and even though she was probably a late sleeper, she did have a kid to get to school – although she probably had one of her minions do that – I figured nine am would be best.

 

Ring, ring!

 

“Miz Emmy’s residence – Your name and your business?”

 

 

WHAT……….?  Nothing like screening your calls! I explained I was a friend from Arizona and needed to speak to Emmy about traveling to Rio.

 

“Let me direct you to her personal assistant.  Please hold.”

 

“Wait, wait.  This is long distance.” But it was too late, music from My Fair Lady streamed through the phone.   Finally in the middle of “The Rain in Spain”  click – buzz – click – click….

 

“Hello, My name is Karen, Miz Emmy’s secretary.  How may I help you?”

 

I went through my spiel again and after a long silence – at least I wasn’t put on hold again, I was told that Miz Emmy didn’t know anyone from Arizona and since she was in the middle of a mani-pedi,  I should just leave my number.

 

Great, all this time and trouble and I get to leave a number because she is having her toes painted – probably in red, white and blue.

 

Then, as I was about to give my number I hear footsteps through the phone coming across what was probably a hardwood floor and an out of breath voice says “Is this really Roys from Arizona?”

 

“Yes, it really is,” I said and then we started to talk, well to be honest – she talked.  I did get my questions in but it was really hard and then she just took over.  She discussed things and more things, first in general and then  specifics.  Three hours later (darn, I should have let her call me back) I came away with all kinds of suggestions – like it is really windy so don’t wear a dress, wear sandals through security but not to the beach,  make sure you stay at Copacabana as it is the only place worth staying and it has the best Italian food ever, and you simply must try the wild boar at The Bar e Restaurante Nova Capela – it’s to die for.    Wild boar…., Italian…. – what about just plain Mexican food?  But I agreed to everything she said as she probably really does know and figured I could pare it down later – other wise I would have to charter my own plane just to take all the things she suggested.

 

Friday, and it’s a week before I leave. I have taken care of most of the big items.  I had downsized Emmy’s list to a workable number of things that would fit in my suitcase.  I had my reservations at The Copa, my passport was up to date, I had all my shots (worse than the horses), I was mostly packed and my plane reservations were made.  I spent a few days shopping which was a few days to many and I grew quite tired of looking for shoes. However, by Sunday night I was ready as I could be.

 

I spent Monday calling everyone to tell them to be sure to watch The Equinics Channel next Friday evening. Tuesday was spent checking everything again, and again and again. Wednesday, after making sure the plane was on time, I left for the airport about 5 hours early.  It takes an hour and a half to get to Phoenix  and then with all the security I wanted to have plenty of time to get to the gate.  The airport was actually not near as bad as I thought it might be and since I was flying first class (there is no other way – according to Emmy), I got settled in and got a firm grip on the arm rests as I am not a good shipper, and away we roared! We left in the early afternoon on Wednesday and arrived Thursday morning.  That’s an awful long time to be on a plane but the flight was uneventful (thank goodness) and my baggage made it there also. Woo Hoo!

 

I exchanged some money at the airport and caught a cab, loaded all my things and when I asked to be taken to The Copacabana he told me the rooms would not be ready so early in the morning and could he take me on a tour.  I said no thank you but I think he drove me the long way around anyway, as it was an awfully expensive taxi ride.  He pointed out Christ The Redeemer, Ipanema Beach and Sugarloaf Mountain all of which I was sure I would be able to see from my hotel and showed me many of the best places to shop.  I was really wishing for Ace and her taxi, because the cab driver never shut up and by the time we arrived at the hotel, I just paid and headed for the lobby with a huge headache. O f course my room was ready,  I mean after all I am practically royalty as The Lighter of the Flame, so I checked in and it really was a beautiful room.  I took a long hot shower and promptly laid down and went to sleep.

 

When I awoke it was late Thursday afternoon so I dressed and went down to the lobby to try and find some Simmers to go to dinner with.  The lobby was jam-packed with people, all here for the Equinics.  I headed for the bar and found Sabbath, Itch, Cadet and Sabalou all having a drink so I sat down at the table and ordered a Coors Light, which was very expensive as here it is considered an imported beer – Bah!  We talked Equinics, toasted Vermont for putting on the show, and then toasted Ladyssecret and Mano for being the driving forces behind the Equinics.  A steady round of people came by and it was fun to see so many faces.  Sitting at a table next to us were Mgprice, 2wide, and 1away.  They joined us in every toast and then had a few of their own.  I waved at Hidden in the corner but he was unresponsive. Bum stopped by and got a drink off Cadet while Johnny, Nextbonus and Weedman asked if any of us wanted to go outside.  I guess, Weedman had found some contacts among the locals.   People kept stopping by and pretty soon I stopped trying to remember names.  Sabalou noticed I was getting a bit light headed and suggested dinner, so because that seemed like a good idea – off we went but not to one of Emmy’s suggestions.  I think it was the outdoor taco stand just stand down the street.  Whatever was in those tacos, and it could have been wild boar, they were excellent.  Then we were off to the barn area to check on our runners and then back to the Copa for some late night dancing.  I had a great time, I think, I danced with several good dancers but Eman was the best especially doing the Bossa Nova!

 

Friday – a day of practice for the ceremony that evening.  All the residencies had brought their torches, including one mini lighter, to a place we were calling the residency fire. According to Masterab and Lenny, who else would be in charge, the plan was the Residencies would all touch their torches to light my big torch, which I would then carry up a long ramp to the top  I was supposed to stand there for a minute under the stars while music played and then slowly lower the torch and set fire to the giant cauldron which would remain burning until the end of the races.  I was sure glad it was a ramp and not stairs as I am old and unfit and they made me climb it what seemed like a thousand times.  Slave drivers!  Good thing I can rest in an owner’s box tomorrow.

 

We finally knocked off the practice sessions about three in the afternoon (we were as good as we were going to get) and everyone went back to their various  hotels.  Rio is only an hour ahead of Vermont time-wise and since what I was doing was being televised in Vermont we wanted to do it late enough that everyone would be home from work and could see it live on the big screen at the Vermont Track.  I had to be ready at 7:30 for my big 8:00 performance.  After a nap and another shower I dressed in my new duds – I decided to wear a creamy white silk pair of gaucho pants and a silk midnight blue blouse with not quite high boots.  I thought I looked fine and after a final glance in the mirror and a look out the window at Christ The Redeemer, I said a mental prayer not to drop the torch or fall or do anything else stupid and went down to catch a cab to the Opening Ceremonies.  I took my place at the Residency fire, took a deep breath and picked up my torch.

 

 Je suis prest.

 

Let the Equinics begin!