i picked up the sunday paper while waiting for mitchell's blueberry pan-pans. on the first page of the chronicle was an article with the title, "delighted to join the dance"...there was a picture of 3 teens, none with any hair. it was ucsf's first prom for kids in treatment for cancer...a profoundly moving story. the tears started, and how could they not...all these sweet kids, excited for the big night... something to look forward to in between the grueling world of treatments.
they came attached to their ivs, some in wheelchairs, and they danced...they looked great in their suits and fancy dresses and make-up...and they could relax and enjoy the time, knowing that everyone at the prom understood...the parents, teary eyed, waited in the room next door...
once again, i decided to stop complaining so much...
i thought about glenn, the cousin i had but never really knew...i'd hear about what an incredible kid he was, how hard he tried to live, and how much he was loved...i thought about deborah's young neice who passed away last year, after going through so much to stay here...and i wondered if they got to go to a prom.
i never went to mine when i was a kid...i thought it was uncool...but i looked at it differently today...if i'm around next year i want to be a volunteer and go to the prom...
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