How We Crashed My Niece’s Senior Prom

So, my niece has grown up way too fast. We looked up and the girl is headed to college. We say it all the time, that time has flown by, but it really has. Linzee is one of the high school kids that really caught the short end of the stick last year when our worlds were abruptly stopped. It was her junior year. One day she was looking for prom dresses and the next day, she was canceling orders because there was no prom. For minute it felt like, “Is this even possible?” Is it even possible to NOT be able to go to your junior prom? I mean, yea, plenty of people DECIDE not to go to prom, but to not have the option is just a mess. And then let’s add to that. We all thought that maybe prom would be delayed a bit. We were all prepared for even a summer or fall prom, but COVID made sure that prom was just O-U-T. I really feel even worse for the seniors last year, especially those who may have skipped going their junior year.

Well, thank God, this year, the parents at her school got together to throw an epic prom for the seniors. As a school leader, I absolutely get why the school did put on the event. And I’m in agreement. BUT, kuddos to the parents for making it happen safely. My niece goes to a small Catholic school, so we’re not talking about a class of a thousand. They could totally pull it off and they did.

When my niece was a baby, I was really more of an auntie-momma. I bought all of her clothes and I feel like she was with me every weekend, by choice or not. LOL That’s another story for another day, but just know that my sister owes me big time and she has NOT tried to pay me back yet. So anyway, my niece and I have always been very close, but my own life started changing as she got older and so did hers. She was in cheer practice and had dance recitals, and I was in grad school and teaching full-time.

My niece is probably the most resilient person I know. She’s had her share of rough patches like most high school kids, but she’s so much like me. We’ll cry a little or maybe even a lot. But you better watch out when we get done. (insert the walk, walk, walk song right here). Once we get over it, remember who we are and whose we are, there is nothing in the world that can stop us. And she’s much better at it than I am. She has graciously accepted whatever curve balls life has thrown her way and COVID or not, prom had to be a hit for her!

She ordered her own dress, found her own hair stylist and got her own makeup done. Yaaaaassssss Linzee! She’s a Color Street stylist like me, so of course she wore Color Street to prom. Her mom literally sat on the floor 5 minutes before she walked out the door and did her toes. She was gorgeous!

I showed up at her house like all good aunts on prom night and I’m like…where is the fanfare? Where is the drama? LOL Date? Nope. Limo? Nope. She wanted to go by herself and she wanted to driver her own car. I’m clapping for all of this girl-power on the inside, but the girly-girl in me said, YOU WILL HAVE PROFESSIONAL PICTURES! And that’s where I drew the line! I know that cell phones pics are bomb these days but I needed for her to have some amazing images to look back on and remember the best night of her life! I felt like she DESERVED to have something extra special! I called Uncle Derrick of Carlyn Photography. He heard my story and insisted that we make this happen! There was one problem though…she was literally walking out the door to head to the prom. Well, I knew I couldn’t keep her from going to the prom to take pictures, so we drove off into a far away land and showed up at the prom! It was hilarious! My cool husband made us leave promptly after we got a few shots, but we got it done. It was all for a great cause and she’ll have great pictures and an amazing story of how her aunt, mom, and uncles crashed her prom!