The Dance

Anyone who knows my daughter, Lauren, knows she loves to dance! It is her all-time favorite activity.

In our area, Therapeutic Recreation, a county program, hosts dances for people with disabilities 3-4 times a year. The dances are held on Saturdays from 6:00-8:00 p.m.

Planning for this two hour dance begins months ahead of time. The number of people allowed at a dance is limited. So, the hopeful dancers have to sign up to participate in a "lottery". If a person is selected via the lottery, payment has to be made within a week in order to secure a spot on the dance floor. 

For Lauren to attend the dance, she needs a companion/support person who will be there to accompany her to the bathroom and intervene if she has behavior issues over food or drinks that may be served.

The afternoon of the dance, I arrive at her apartment to help her get dressed, fix her hair, put on new earrings and even lipstick! All smiles, she is pulling me "Go", "Go", "Go".

Lottery application submitted (check).

Lauren was selected (check).

Payment sent (check).

Support staff scheduled (check).

Support staff confirmed (check).

Lauren dressed and ready (check). 

An hour before the dance, my cell phone notifies me of a text message from the support staff person.  

She won't be able to take Lauren to the dance because "she is running a fever".

My jaw drops and I quickly text my husband to say we are taking Lauren out for pizza (her second favorite thing).  The change in plans doesn't sit well with Lauren. She wants to dance! 

Thankfully, by the time we got seated at the restaurant, she  accepted the change.

Should going to a 2 hour dance maybe 3-4 times a year be this hard?

Oh well, there's always next time, if she gets picked by the lottery and if her staff person doesn't come down with Bubonic plague.

Keeping it real!

Donna