Prom Come True
Last week Jeff and I took Alisha to the prom at Northville High School. About six months ago the idea was born when Alisha's teacher told me and my friend Debbie that our kids were invited to attend prom at no cost. Debbie and I decided this might be fun and arranged for Cory to take Alisha as his "date".
All the official things people do for proms, Debbie and I did. There was the pinnacle invite; flamingos landing in our yard one day, with the letters P-R-O-M hanging from each one and a written message of "Alisha, will you go to prom with me?" "Love, Cory". There was shopping for a dress (which we did in our living room thanks to my friend Cathy and her endless list of friends who allowed us to peruse their daughters' dresses). We settled on a full-length black dress with spaghetti straps and embroidered glossy, white leaves on the bodice. It became my favorite when it was the only one that fit!
The day of prom we bought ballerina slippers, got prettied up and headed to meet Debbie and Cory for the pictures and corsage exchange. From that point things get pretty unconventional and certainly unique.
Cory kept sitting on the ground for pictures because, well he felt like it. And he had an appreciation for his teal bow tie that I'm sure no other boy has ever had. Our photo ops were brief windows for smiles and direct eye gazes to the cameras. Both Alisha and Cory enjoyed staring at their parents or sitting on their laps far more than acting like models!
Once we arrived at the Suburban Showplace in Novi, all the teenagers congregated outside the building with girls fawning over the dresses of their friends and more paparazzi. Alisha and Cory squeezed near to their teacher Ms. Sue who arrived to share in the fun. I'm sure there was not another student in the city who was as geeked to have their teacher with them at prom as Alisha!
Once we got in the banquet hall, dinner was served promptly. Alisha sat in high giggles the entire meal staring at...Ms. Sue. Cory devoured multiple rolls and his entire meal. It was all about the food for Cory.
Next was the dance floor. We moved the kids to the perimeter of the dance floor. Blaring, distorted sounding music, darkness and a mob of people did not interfere with Cory and Alisha's fun. Cory got his moves out (well the one he has) with complete bliss. Occasionally he sat down on the floor to rest. I swung Alisha's chair back and forth to whatever groove I could attempt. She squealed with laughter and gazed upon...Ms. Sue.
When the night was over I felt surprised at how much enjoyment Alisha had. Honestly I thought she was going to shut down, go into her own world due to the crowd and noise. I thought the evening would be more for me. More about me reinventing dreams, for me. Turns out she's got some of her own.
All the official things people do for proms, Debbie and I did. There was the pinnacle invite; flamingos landing in our yard one day, with the letters P-R-O-M hanging from each one and a written message of "Alisha, will you go to prom with me?" "Love, Cory". There was shopping for a dress (which we did in our living room thanks to my friend Cathy and her endless list of friends who allowed us to peruse their daughters' dresses). We settled on a full-length black dress with spaghetti straps and embroidered glossy, white leaves on the bodice. It became my favorite when it was the only one that fit!
The day of prom we bought ballerina slippers, got prettied up and headed to meet Debbie and Cory for the pictures and corsage exchange. From that point things get pretty unconventional and certainly unique.
Cory kept sitting on the ground for pictures because, well he felt like it. And he had an appreciation for his teal bow tie that I'm sure no other boy has ever had. Our photo ops were brief windows for smiles and direct eye gazes to the cameras. Both Alisha and Cory enjoyed staring at their parents or sitting on their laps far more than acting like models!
Once we arrived at the Suburban Showplace in Novi, all the teenagers congregated outside the building with girls fawning over the dresses of their friends and more paparazzi. Alisha and Cory squeezed near to their teacher Ms. Sue who arrived to share in the fun. I'm sure there was not another student in the city who was as geeked to have their teacher with them at prom as Alisha!
Once we got in the banquet hall, dinner was served promptly. Alisha sat in high giggles the entire meal staring at...Ms. Sue. Cory devoured multiple rolls and his entire meal. It was all about the food for Cory.
Next was the dance floor. We moved the kids to the perimeter of the dance floor. Blaring, distorted sounding music, darkness and a mob of people did not interfere with Cory and Alisha's fun. Cory got his moves out (well the one he has) with complete bliss. Occasionally he sat down on the floor to rest. I swung Alisha's chair back and forth to whatever groove I could attempt. She squealed with laughter and gazed upon...Ms. Sue.
When the night was over I felt surprised at how much enjoyment Alisha had. Honestly I thought she was going to shut down, go into her own world due to the crowd and noise. I thought the evening would be more for me. More about me reinventing dreams, for me. Turns out she's got some of her own.
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