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<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"My senior prom date was 21. He refused to come to the house for the picture-taking ritual beforehand. When I think about that now, I still feel that rejection. And shame, too. Because he had shamed me for even asking. We had been dating, off and on, for months. It’s not like we were strangers. But he was like, “No, no, I’m not going to do that whole picture thing. Nope.”<\/p>\n
It was pouring rain that day and my eyes had had a bad reaction to new saline solution for my lenses – so I had to wear my glasses to the prom, which seemed like the ultimate tragedy at the time. The fact that my prom date refused to actually, you know, act like a prom date – paled in comparison to having to wear glasses.<\/p>\n
But then – like an angel of mercy – two of my friends (who were in college) called. They were living my prom vicariously. They were so excited for me. They didn’t care that I had to wear glasses. They knew my prom date wasn’t going to come over – so what did they do? They jumped in their car and raced over to my house, so that I could have pictures taken in the living room with THEM. Not with my date.<\/p>\n
Look at how Liz is holding onto my white-gloved hand, as though it is a posed prom picture. She was 21 years old, 22, and so into the fact<\/i> that her young friend was having this experience.<\/p>\n
She’s good people.<\/p>\n
And Joe! Look at my friend Joe, standing there, beaming.<\/p>\n
I am still amazed by their kindness and sweetness on that day.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
My senior prom date was 21. He refused to come to the house for the picture-taking ritual beforehand. When I think about that now, I still feel that rejection. And shame, too. Because he had shamed me for even asking. … Continue reading