May is a lovely month. Spring is in full force, and summer is creeping up behind. May is also a very busy month, matched only by December with its crush of holiday activities and traditions. Why is May so busy? Much of it has to do with school.
Rob and I have 4 kids who were born over a 11-year span. (I actually thought it was 12, but I just checked my math, lol) Because of their age spacing, we had kids enrolled in our local school system for 26 consecutive years. We know a thing or two about school. The youngest daughter is currently in college, and I teach preschool, so our lives are still governed by the academic calendar. And, the academic calendar around here ends each year in May. During the month of May, there are countless school projects being completed, exams being taken, studies being wrapped-up, not to mention, end of year fine arts concerts being attended, end of season sports events being banqueted, final committee reports being submitted, administrative duties being handed off,… Every organization extending out from the school has to finalize activities for the year, commemorate accomplishments for the year, and prepare for the hand-off and start-up of activities that will begin the next fall. There is a lot of shutting down and previewing for the future. The calendar is crammed full of meetings and events. For students, the pressure of tests and exams is paramount.
But, May is not all pressures and commitments. For our family, May is also the month that provided some of our favorite experiences over the years. May is also Party Month. For years, we enjoyed 2 stellar parties in the month of May.
On the first Saturday in May the iconic Kentucky Derby horse race is held. Rob spent much of his childhood in Louisville, Kentucky, the home of the Kentucky Derby. So, for over 20 years, in May, Rob & I hosted our own Kentucky Derby Party at our home in Georgia. It was a blast! Our typical party started around 4:00pm, with time to socialize before the late afternoon race began. The last guests lingered until almost midnight. We had Lemonade, Mint Juleps, Kentucky Burgoo, Derby Pie, and a host of other yummies. We had Horseshoe tournaments, outdoor kids’ activities, and an awesome firepit. At race time, we squeezed together in front of the tv, some 60 or so people, to sing “My Old Kentucky Home” and watch the Most Exciting Two Minutes In Sports. People placed blind bets, then rooted furiously for their horse to come in 1st (Win), 2nd (Place), 3rd (Show), or Last (Last) so they could win a portion of the betting pool. I loved that we gave pay-outs to, not just the winners, but also the last place horse.
Old Derby Poster 
Mint Julep, Please! 
Silver Kentucky Colonel Cup Belonged to Rob's Dad
We often joked that people would show up at our house on the 1st Saturday in May, whether we were having a party or not. It broke our hearts a few years ago when we stopped hosting the Derby party, but unavoidable family commitments and schedules upended our routine. The Derby Party remains a highlight of our memories in our neighborhood, because so many good times were had. Friends old and young still talk about the fun.
We enjoyed another awesome party every year at the end of May. Our neighborhood put together a weekend celebration over Memorial Day that was topnotch. It was a big volleyball event, hosted at the neighborhood volleyball court. (The court sat mostly undisturbed all year, until it got cleaned up and ready for May) We called the weekend GroundPounders. Friends from in and out of the neighborhood, friends and relatives from out of town and out of state—everyone came together for GroundPounders weekend. The weekend included a golf outing with festivities, a Night-Before Pregame dinner with festivities, an all-day Volleyball Tournament with festivities, an all-day Pool Event with festivities, a huge covered dish Pot-Luck Dinner with festivities, and a Junior Volleyball Tournament for kids with festivities.
Ready for Action 
At the Net 
Serving
Every year a new T-Shirt was revealed, and participants were assigned to teams bearing names such as the Spikers and the Diggers. The court was overflowing with spectators cheering for their favorite players. The winning team received a winner’s prize and had their names engraved on The Harvey Cup, a trophy named for the family who originally founded the tournament. Recognition was given for players who had participated in the most GroundPounders over the years, players whose names were engraved on The Harvey Cup the most times, players who had played year after year without ever winning the tournament, and other notable feats. The volleyball play was, at times, rusty, and at other times, quite good. Some players and some spectators took the matches very seriously, and others were just out for a good time. We enjoyed an overwhelming sense of community with friends near and far who enjoyed the fun of GroundPounders with us.
A Few of the T-Shirts From Over the Years 
Rob's Victory, Hoisting the Harvey Cup
After more than 25 years, the GroundPounders tournament was laid to rest. Many of the original players, men and women, had achy bones and found it hard to go all out in competition. Many of the young people who grew up in the tournament (first watching, then playing as Junior GroundPounders, then moving up to play with the big boys), moved away and started new traditions with their families. As with our Kentucky Derby Party, the event finally ran its course. We are all sad that we won’t be gathering at my house to watch horses race The Kentucky Derby or gathering for a fun-filled weekend of GroundPounders at the end of May. But, as the saying goes:
“Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.”
– Dr. Seuss.
May is fast upon us. While it’s a busy, busy month as we wind down the school year and prepare for summer activities, I can’t help but smile as I think about the wonderful memories of comradery and community that we forged in the month of May. Some of our favorite memories of the year involve the month of May. Many friends of all ages tell us how much they loved our Kentucky Derby Parties over the years. Also, anyone who ever attended GroundPounders raves about the sportsmanship, competition and sense of community. I can’t overstate the importance of tradition, which gives parents and kids something to plan for, to look forward to, and to remember. Even in busy times, we should find a way to connect with people and share experiences. "Ya’ll remember when we did the thing?"......"This is who we are"........"This is what we do....."
Of course, your thing, whatever it is, doesn’t have to happen in May. I just have a soft spot for May, with the end of school, the start of summer, a family birthday, and the memories of parties. Many poets herald the month of May, but I think my new favorite says
“Make hay in May for you may never know what June is coming with and you may never know what July will present! When you see May, make hay!”
Ernest Agyemang Yeboah
Let’s welcome May, with all of its possibilities. And, as far as the plans you lay, I agree, Make Hay!