Here I go - taking the fun out of EVERYTHING!

As I was looking through my list of lyrics for all the Caroling events I am leading or participating this season I came across a curious - to me - little tid bit in the lyrics for Jingle Bells.

"Now the ground is white, go it while you're young
Take the girls tonight, and sing this sleighing song;
Just get a bob-tailed bay, two-forty as his speed
Hitch him to an open sleigh and crack! you'll take the lead"

Now....when James Pierpoint originally wrote this back in 1857 no one had EVER heard of a suped up Dodge or Chevy! (There is NO speed- , tack- , or od- ometer on a horse or a sleigh!) The farm I grew up on only briefly had horses. Horse-speak is not in my everyday vernacular. I know what a bob-tailed bay is, but I was not clear as to the meaning of "...two-forty as his speed..." With the help of a little horsey friend I was able to find out a bit more info that would give me the best guess. 

This gave me two ideas:

1. This is a great way to impress your kids with a bit of almost - in today's world anyway- useless information! (Take heed you parents who have a child that is not interested in math - take a family field trip to the local horse track at the fair grounds and see just how you can GENTLY insert math into the fun of the day!)

2. Wouldn't it be neat to have a "Jingle Bells Sleigh Race" at the Horse Track and Amphitheater at Roberts Park in Connersville, IN? There is an enormous amount of history and fun in the horse culture surrounding that race track!

 I got lots and lots of ideas folks, but there is only one me. How you can take some little thing and see where it goes in your imagination! Remember what Dr Seuss said: "Oh , the THINKS you can think if you are willing to try....."

Ok, I am back to rounding up the lyrics for caroling!

-Suzanna