My daughter’s Impressions of Louisville October 14th 2024 649 words

Ruth dearly wanted to meet and touch one of the many guide dogs at the American Printing House Conference. I went through the list of rules when seeing a guide dog. Talk to the owner, not the dog. Don’t pet or interact with the dog. As long as the harness is worn, the dog is on duty. Ask the owner if if you can be introduce to his or her dog. Well, God was listening to her. At our table for the awards ceremony, a young woman sat next to Ruth with her Golden Retriever.
” Are these seats taken?” she asked.
Ruth quickly replied, “No, please join us.”
As she sat down, her dog lay under the table leaning against Ruth’s leg. When the young woman was called to accept her award, she turned to Ruth saying,
“Can you hold my dog’s leash while I go on stage?”
“I would love to!”
Her dog wasn’t happy that his Mistress was leaving him behind. He kept wiggling from under to follow his owner, even with only his eyes. He calmed down when she soon returned to her.
There were several people signing to deaf/blind individuals. Ruth watched as they placed the signing hands on the forearm to the wrist to show location to show conversations. There were several interpreters to communicate with staff and attendees. Some states pay for this service for deaf/ blind individuals.
Friday, eight of the artists signed up to visit a glass blowing studio to experience making art with molten glass. We went down to the work floor one at a time. Donning safety goggles and gloves we were ready to manipulate the hot ball of glass. The glass ball was the size of a large fist. The glass was put on in several layers before ready. The end of the tube glowed orange with the molten glass. With heavy stainless steel tongs, we were directed to pinch then pull, twist and push to mix the colors that had been added to the glass. I had selected the colors of red, pink and white.I imagined a Christmas hard candy as I worked. The piece was heated in the furnace between manipulations. It was like working taffy. It got harder to work as it cooled. Finally the instructor was satisfied. Ruth and I left the work floor and away from the heat of the furnaces and the constant roar of the cooling fans.
After lunch, we took a stroll to the Welcome center. I remember it was a good place to shop for souvenirs. What I didn’t expect was a free bourbon sampling. I declined but Ruth sampled two different bourbons.
Walking back to the hotel, we decided to go the gym before our cruise and dinner on the Belle of Louisville steam powered paddle boat. We didn’t know what to expect so we dressed casually.
A bus took the group to the docks a half hour away. Climbing twenty steps I felt the smooth wood of many hands that had used railings. The ceilings were high and gilded with gold . Tables were set up on the middle deck. A buffet dinner of vegetables, salad, rolls and butter were offered with beef tips on rice and fried chicken. Dessert was a frosted yellow cake or apple pie.
After the meal, we wandered to the upper deck to watch the setting sun. The paddles reversed and performed a slow turn to return to take us back to our busses
Early on Saturday, we ordered a lift to return to the airport. We leave with many memories of this first mother/daughter excursion.
&&&**. poem
Painting the town
Arm in arm, we strolled the town
Wined, dined, met new friends.
impressed by art, the saga began.
We toast to each other
sailing on the paddle boat.
Taking a vow, to do this again.
carolaspot@aol.com copyright 10/14/24