The Winning Ticket

        Photo is my sister Melodee, Christmas Day 1993

In the summer of nineteen sixty-two, our family took a ride;
To Cincinnati’s famous horse track, near the Ohio Riverside!
My sister, mother, father and me, were heading to Riverdowns;
To watch the racing horses, and lay some money down!
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My little sister was very hopeful, as she picked a horse for every race;
But after five straight losing tickets, she had a pout upon her face!
My father then said, “Melodee, don’t you worry any more”;
“Because for the next race you’ll have a winner, of that you can be sure!
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I went with him to the windows, said, “Dad, what are you going to do”?
He said, “My boy, just watch me, you’ll learn a thing or two”!
He told the man, “I want a ticket, on every horse to win”;
Fourteen he put into his pocket, then gave me a wink and grin!
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A funny thing then happened, a longshot came in first;
He showed Melodee the winning ticket, and happiness from her burst!
She yelled, “Daddy, you were right, I’m so excited I could scream”;
He said, “Sweetie, you and me together, are such a winning team”!
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                                     Sacred memories
                                My family now all gone
                                   I miss them dearly