by Pam Fowler-Grace

After I spoke with him I went into high gear. We only had a couple of days to prepare to leave and I had to find a substitute to judge a show to which I was committed. Christine Thompson, the President of the Long Island Appaloosa Club and Helene made all of the arrangements for our trip to New York from Houston, Texas. Paul had Pay N Go and I flown there accompanied by a professional horse escort. Pay N Go seemed to be very comfortable being a jet setter and loved all of the attention.

We were in New York for a week. Pay N Go was stabled at Anne and David Gribbon's Barn on Long Island. There he was treated with the utmost admiration and care. The staff was exceptionally professional, sensitive, and attentive to Pay N Go's every need. David and Anne's barn was extremely charming with a very friendly staff. David Gribbons met us upon our arrival, his wife Anne was at Gladstone for The USET Festival of Champions. Everyone at this beautiful stable made us feel right at home. Pay N Go thinks quite highly of himself and was pleased with all this attention. As soon as I got my horse tucked in, Christine Thompson whisked me away to my hotel room where I quickly showered as she ordered me a sandwich encouraging me to eat (I had not eaten nor slept for two days, and needed help thinking at this point). Returning to the barn we met Helene (Paul's secretary) in person for the first time along with Mark (Paul's body guard), and a friend of Paul's, Michelle. I led Pay N Go out of the stall and he stood there with his usual haughty attitude as though he was blessing us with his presence. They were totally taken back by his appearance and said he was much more awesome than they had imagined. Helene fell head over heals in love with him.

Both Pay N Go and myself rested the first day and then started schooling for our performance twice a day making all the necessary preparations. Christine and I rode a train into Manhattan (without Pay N Go - of course) on Sunday to go to the Riverside Church (where the Memorial would be held) for a rehearsal. There we met Helene and a gathering of Paul's friends. I was impressed at how down to earth and kind everyone was. The huge gothic church was gorgeous with blue and green stained glass. As I stood awestruck at this magnificent place, I could see workers busily adding 45,000 stems of flowers especially for Linda's memorial.