Prom night.
A shimmering, sparkling, memory-making moment for so many young people. But this year, something a little extra magical happened—not just for the teens in tuxedos and gowns, but for the residents of our beloved nursing home.
It all started with a phone call to the head of the local prom committee. “Would the kids be willing to put on a little prom fashion show?” I asked. Would they?! She said she’d ask and get back to me.
The idea was simple: the prom-goers, all dressed to the nines, would swing by the nursing home before heading out for their big night. But what none of us expected was the profound impact this would have on all generations. We got busy.
The main room was transformed into our very own runway. Staff and I arranged the chairs in neat rows, queued up some elegant music, and helped a few eager residents create over 40 handmade signs. They scribbled words like “Stunning!”, “Dapper!”, “Beautiful!”, “Perfect 10!”, and “Wow!” with markers and glitter and enough enthusiasm to power a disco ball.
And then—at last, it was showtime!
One by one, the couples began to snake through the rows, slowly and gracefully, like they were walking the red carpet at a Hollywood premiere. The room filled with cheers, claps, and hoots of delight. Residents waved their signs high in the air, some holding two at once.
You’d think Elvis himself had walked in.
What struck me most was the way these young people carried themselves. Every one of them treated our residents with such gentleness and respect. They knelt down to hold hands, posed for pictures, and soaked in the wisdom passed to them with smiles and gratitude. They were elegance, personified—inside and out. And just when we thought our hearts couldn’t be more full, they went up and down every hallway, visiting those who couldn’t make it out of their rooms. Not a single soul was forgotten.
One resident whispered to me, tears in her eyes, “They brought the prom to me.”
After our glittering guests had their photos taken and headed to the golf course for dinner and dancing, we gathered for our own kind of after-party—a discussion group about proms past. Or in some cases, the lack thereof.
“We didn’t have proms,” one resident chuckled. “We had barn dances—or just danced in someone’s field!”
Another gentleman, pushing a century in age, was asked if he’d ever spend $300-$800 on a prom dress. He didn’t miss a beat: “No!” he barked, followed by, “I might spend $50—but I wouldn’t even want to do that!” The room erupted with laughter!
That night, we were reminded of something important. It’s easy for older generations to misunderstand or even dismiss the younger ones. But when we meet each other with open hearts and open minds, there’s so much love to be shared. These incredible teens gave our residents a night to remember. And I have a feeling they left with something just as meaningful in return.
Here’s to every generation—dancing together, one hallway at a time.
The Blonde on the Prairie is a lover of ND. She is an author and motivational speaker, owner of “Monkey Balls” food truck and Joyologist to the elderly, the disabled and also to children wherever she is needed during the school year and beyond.
