Why Kentucky’s First Lady Handed Me A Bath Towel

It was during a recent press trip to Kentucky. The Governor’s Office of Economic Development invited a group of journalists to explore the state’s various assets. There were bourbon distilleries, manufacturing plants, and a visit to Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby.

One stop along the tour was the modern headquarters of Brown-Forman. Makers of Jack Daniels, it is among the country’s largest spirits companies. They presented a nice buffet lunch in a standard corporate conference room. No alcohol was served. There was, however, an excellent fudgy chocolate cake for dessert.

After eating, the journalists assembled in the lobby. A handsome lobby it was, whose architectural centerpiece is a granite wall filled with cascading greenery that rises up the entire glass enclosed core of the building, making it visible from every floor. As we were waiting for the entire group to gather, I decided to stand by that wall.

I took one step towards it. One. And instantly found myself face down in a foot of water. I stood up, drenched from head to toe, more shocked than embarrassed. I had fallen into a pool.

No sign. No barrier. No obstruction. Not even a plant on the ground. Just a single footstep into ignominy.

I had fallen into a pool. A single footstep into ignominy.

I immediately removed the phone from my back pocket (still working) and handed my camera (no longer working) to someone in the stunned group. No one was more surprised than me, particularly upon hearing from our Brown-Forman host, “You’re not the first person to have done that.” Hey, thanks for the warning. (Although they did reimburse me for the camera repair.)

Of course it was humiliating. However, I am relieved to report that no alcohol was involved, which would have made it worse.

That same night, we had dinner at the Governor’s Mansion, a striking, 100-year old Beaux-Arts design in Frankfurt, Kentucky. The bar offering, incidentally, was eight different bottles of Kentucky Bourbon. Options were neat, rocks, or a splash of water. Of these I gladly partook.

I was honored to sit by the Governor’s side. He is a young and vital 70, an all-around great guy, and by most every account and approval rating, a terrific governor. By prioritizing education, health, and economic development, he has made Kentucky better for its citizens. But I digress.

After a few brief dinner speeches, including the Governor’s, the lovely First Lady got the last word. And she used it to make a little presentation to yours truly. Having heard about my wet episode earlier that day, she draped a large white bath towel over my shoulders to remember more fondly my adventures in Kentucky.

As we said our good-byes later the First Lady inquired, “You’re not taking your towel?” I remarked that the memory would last long past the memento. She responded, “the taxpayers of Kentucky will appreciate that.”

[If you’d like to read my report from the trip, it is here.]