Dominic Rucco relaxes near the meatballs, the calzones and three kinds of pizza.

EDITOR'S NOTE: When this story originally appeared in October of 2002 their were several people incorrectly identified. The most glaring one was that Karen Amedeo, who supplied most of the information, was listed as Jeri Rucco. The story has been revised to CORRECTLY match parents to their quotes (and spouses to their actual spouse!).

STONEHILL COLLEGE TAILGATE: "It's Italian day," said Karen Amedeo, whose daughter Kelsey is one of the leading open riders in zone 1, region 4. "We have meatball grinders, or meatball subs, whatever you would like to call them. We have calzones, we have three kinds of pizza, two kinds of macaroni salad. There is apple crumb cake, chocolate chip cookies and cupcakes for dessert."

The parents of riders who compete for Stonehill College have one of the more structured tailgates. "Next week will be Mexican," says Karen. "We will serve soft tacos. Marge Omartian (mother of Alissa, who rides intermediate) will handle the toppings, while Jeri and Dominic Amedeo (parents of Dyanna, a.k.a. Dee Dee, who rides open) will take care of the fillings. Amanda Welkers' mom Christine is going to bring chili (Welker was one of several heros at todays' Boston University show). Lucy Brennan (mother of Tom, who rides intermediate) is bringing dessert. We (Karen and Joe Amedeo) will bring nachos and salsa." There was a pause while Karen and others tried to remember who else would be bringing something. Karen produced a list of the "New Parents," which is not to say the couples just had a baby but rather that their sons or daughters were new to the Stonehill equestrian team. "OK. Joy Davis, Rebeccas' mom, is bringing dessert (though this dessert will differ from that of Lucy Brennan)." At this point Wayne Pelis, Father of advanced walk-trot-canter rider Megan, indicated he would bring the cider. Karen continued to analyze the cryptic note about the lunch menu slated for Windcrest Farm this Saturday. "Ah. Susan Healey, Kalyn's mom (a new open rider), they will bring donuts and hot chocolate. You have to get everybody going in the morning."

The author of this article was asked if he would like to try something, or in fact, anything, as there was still much of italian day to be sampled. Besides the items previously mentioned, there were fresh strawberries with confectioners sugar (courtesy of Jeri Rucco), peanut butter cookies with lots of sugar, and plenty to drink (courtesy of Judy and Rich Fletcher, whose daughter Erin won both of her novice classes). Upon trying a meatball sandwich, the author wanted to know who produced most of todays' spread. Karen turned out to be responsible for the meatballs. Dominic Rucco made the calzones. When asked about which kinds of pizza were on the menu, for once Karen was uncertain. "I'm not sure. Kelsey and Dee Dee stayed up and made them last night." One of the macaroni salads was in part a tuna salad, courtesy of the Amadeos, while Joe Amedeo brought cannolis'. The Fletchers made the apple crumb cake and chocolate chips, while Susan Taffe, mother of novice rider Sarah Fillebrown, had made "Outstanding gourmet cupcakes" to quote Karen.

"A couple of us take charge in planning," said Karen, who mentioned that this had been a good week in that the returning parents got to meet and bond with the new ones. When asked if they had tried an American week, the Ruccos' seem to recall it had been done with hot dogs or hamburgers sometime last season. Knowing that this author would not see the region again until the new year, he wondered if the American theme would be in use in Spring of '03. Always ready with a great comeback, Karen could make no promises. "By then we will probably be on to Chinese!"

Perhaps the finest complement paid to the Stonehill tailgaters took place at zones last season. A rider from another team, perhaps one from another zone, walked over and asked politely, "Can my grandmother have some of those meatballs? She is smelling them across the barn!"

The author was curious if some of the parents were competitive riders in their youth. Surprisingly, few were. At this point, one of the mothers, perhaps Judy Fletcher or Jeri Rucco, made a statement which Karen Amedeo said would be their motto from now on.

"We may not ride but we can cook!"

---Steve Maxwell