So, as a couple of you know, a bit before Christmas my Nana was killed in a fit of domestic violence. She was in her 60's, and she was still an avid barrel racer. This weekend we went to a Memorial Barrel Race in her memory. There was also a dinner, a silent auction, and a live auction. Proceeds went to Tina's House, a safe house for battered women to go to and to take their children.
Some 70 cowgirls, several racing kids, and a few cowboys came out to race and support the family.
This was in the opening ceremony. The empty horse is for Nana. That's her saddle and her hat on the horse.
It was a bit emotional. This is my sister and me sharing a hug. I'm the one in the purple sparkly hat with my back to the camera. (Sparkle hats are a Nana tradition. She had dozens of them in all different colors, so when she was killed, all the women in the family and all of Nana's female friends got a sparkle cap to wear to the funeral/memorial.) My sister is wearing the event T-shirt.