Race That Stops a Nation

Today was Melbourne Cup day here in Australia. Now, for a race that’s run in Melbourne, Victoria, it’s kind of weird that it’s known as the race that stops the nation. But it really does. It’s so quiet out in the streets when the race is run. The entire nation tunes into that short race. Many more dress up and indulge in a full day of celebration, gambling and other entertainment.

As for me, well I didn’t even know which horse won until I logged onto hotmail. The news shorts let me know the winner. It’s all a bit of a non-event for our family. A lot of people place bets on the Melbourne Cup horses yet never do at any other time of the year.

Is there a national event you don’t take part in simply from lack of interest? Do people think you are strange for your choice? Do you do anything else or just treat the event like any other day? Use the ’stops the nation’ idea as a journal writing prompt and write about events that have stopped the nation throughout your life or wherever the line takes you. Enjoy and discover as you writing in your journal.

Heather
Photo used with permission from stock.xchng