Prom Day

I forgot to mention in my last post that it was Prom Day!

However, Andrea decided not to attend. She had been looking for dresses for a long time. Some were out of her price range, but many were within her range, but she wanted a certain style. Strapless, short or long. She actually bought one from Jessica McClintock in Beachwood Mall, but decided to return it before the 3 day return deadline was over. Imagine paying almost $200 for a dress and only having 3 days to return it! This dress was short, and rather plain for the price, but as my friend pointed out it's a designer dress, and the price is because of the name. Anyway I was glad she returned it because to me if you pay almost $200 for anything, it should come with a shawl, shoes, stockings, jewelry, hairstyle, nails, etc.. ok, that's just my frugalness coming out..

She actually went back to the mall on either Wednesday or Thursday and found one. She called or texted me to let me know that she was going again....but by the time I got home and asked about her it she had changed her mind... again!

This have been going on for weeks. It's not that she didn't have any young men asking her, she did but didnt want to go with them. She had friend that graduated 3 years ago, and he was willing to take her, but the dress thing just wasn't falling into place. We had been to David's Bridal (3x), Cachet, Jessica McClintock, Dillards (2x), Macys, JC Penney, The Red Carpet Boutique, Catans Bridal, Demetrios, Nordstroms, Saks, and maybe some more places that I can't recall. She found some online, but by that time it was too late to order, and who knows about the online places, if you can trust them. Her oldest sister suggested she wear her prom gown from 11 years ago, which still looked good. Of course that was out! She also suggested that she can wear a sharp bridesmaid dress that she wore in her aunt's wedding about 2 years ago. But nothing came from that.

Well anyway on Saturday we went to see one of her best friends get dressed for the same prom that Andrea wasn't attending. Watching her get dressed, seeing her date picking her up, and seeing them taking pictures really made me feel sentimental. I was thinking all the time that Andrea should be dressed with a date (or not), and taking pictures with them. I felt sort of short changed because I was kind of looking forward to her going to her prom. And it was strange seeing her take pictures with her freind and her date, (who by the way is both of their friend), and she not being dressed. A few of her friend's relatives were asking her why she wasn't going. I wondered if she felt regretful that she didn't go? I know I regreted not insisting that she go. Afterall isn't that what all high school seniors look forward to besides graduating, the prom? sigh....

I noticed as I drove home cars lining the streets and crowds surrounding the colorfully dressed prom goers. I thought to myself " that should have been Andrea, why didn't I make her go?" Now can one really make their child attend the prom? I figured well she's going to after prom, so that's ok. But after watching her friend get ready and seeing her and her date take pictures, and sharing that time with them, I wished it was us. You only get to go to prom one time, and after that, you can't relive the moment. Even if someone asked her to go now from another school, it wouldn't be quite the same.

She did attend after prom and she said it was nice. By the next day her friends had their prom pictures posted on Facebook. I peeked at her computer screen and noticed them. The prom pictures were also posted on their photographer's web site. I actually spent a lot of time looking at almost all of them. sigh... I noticed that the young ladies had some really nice dresses, but there were some that were not fancy at all. If only she could have picked a dress, any dress and attended. Just to say I went and I got the picture and the memories to prove it! I still can imagine her being dressed up and driving off. Did I mention that their prom was at the Crawford Auto Museum? A really classy place for any kind of party, not to mention a prom... sigh again...

Oh well, until my next post....double sigh.....

Countdown to the Empty Nest!

May 16, 2009



Well, it is 26 days to the day that my youngest child, Andrea walks across the stage and get her diploma! YES! Today I went to pick up my tickets to her graduation ceremony.

A father was there getting his tickets and talking with the workers. They asked him how many children did he have and he said a lot! He had a young son with him, maybe around 5 years old! I told them all gleefully, this is my last one! Smiling, and wanting to break into a jig or the Holy Ghost dance! LOL! can I get an AMEN somebody? Wow, I've waited for 11 years to say those words! 11 years!



Andrea was in the first grade going to the second when her sister Shawnya graduated. Shaun was in the second going to the third grade. I can remember thinking that Shawnya was graduating, YES! But then I looked down and had not ONE but TWO more to go! TWO MORE! and they were 10 years behind her! HELP ME SOMEBODY PLEEEASE!!!!!

Yes finally the empty nest! The EMPTY NEST! Did I say EMPTY? YES! I have waited for almost 29 years for this day to come! 29! Shawnya will be 29 in July! I have never experienced being an adult and not having any children to care for. You see I found out I was pregnant with Shawnya on my 17th birthday. What a helluva birthday present. SEVENTEEN! I was a junior in high school, with my whole life ahead of me. I thought I wanted to be a pediatrician, and I thought I did not want children. Nothing personal... I used to babysit these kids and they took me there. Well... that all changed... so I was a child/kid/young lady having a baby... Life would never be the same... that's another blog.

So if I seem too eager for the empty nest I AM! LOL! I've been looking forward to this day since July 21, 1991, when Andrea was born. Her brother Shaun was just a year and 17 months old when she came. Not only did I have a daughter that was a few months shy of being 10 when Shaun was born, now I had another baby! HELP! TWO BABIES! I wished I could have had them every two years, by now I would be done. Let's see they would be 29, 27 and 25! YES sounds good to me!

Back to the empty nest. Do I feel a sense of sadness? Mmmm, let me think about that... maybe... OK, just a little thought. I am ready to live my life as an adult with no children pulling on me for something. I know that a mother is always a mother until the day she dies, but at least I don't have to be responsible for anyone now... Yes, it's a little different responsibility, but nothing like having school aged children.

You see when children leave your nest, they learn how to appreciate you and all the things they had and enjoyed while they were living at home. Right now I don't think Shaun or Andrea really appreciates me. And you know, that's ok because they will when they have to pay their own rent, electric, gas, cable, phone, and buy their own groceries, toiletries, household products, etc. The day is coming and I can't wait! LOL!

So I'm going to be sharing my thoughts and cheers, not fears of becoming an empty nester... Oh did I tell you August 20th is move in day! YES! I've been telling my friends that when I drop Andrea off, my bags will be packed and I will keep on going! LOL! HA! I'm going to kick it with a capital K! LOL! HEY, HO, HEY, HO! Party ova here! Party over there! where is the party? Party Hearty! Lolly Dolly we like to party! yes, that's all old school y'all. I dont even know if they even say that anymore, it's been decades since I've gone out..

until my next blog entry ....

oh, let me put this in before I forget.. when they call Andrea's name to get her diploma, I will be waiting in the wings, not the audience...You see I will run up and snatch the diploma from the hands of whomever is handing them out and run off the stage, up the aisle and out the door! Everyone will wonder who or what was that because I will be running like someone doing the 100 yard dash, or whichever one is faster... leaving behind me a cloud of dust, smoke, something...I've earned this diploma! LOL! I've earned it!