The Dirt Road Wonder – Well, I Finally Made It To The Prom

When I was at Havana High School, we looked forward to May Day each year.

There would be a noble King and a beautiful Queen, and their court was composed of gorgeous girls in evening dresses and handsome boys in white dinner jackets.

The court was made up of all the seniors that would graduate later that May.

Other schools had a senior prom, but at Havana High School we had the May Day court instead of a prom.

Weeks, sometime months, before May Day, the girls would be going to every store in the surrounding towns looking for that special dress.

Only later, when we were getting married would a dress be so important again as it was on May Day.

My dress was a beautiful pink satin with a lace overskirt; instead of string straps over the shoulders, it

had woven lace straps with little roses.

It was very full and since I was so skinny back then, it fit rather nicely.

They had children that carried the crowns on pillows to the court.

My brother, Josh Allen Ingram was one of the crown bearers; he was so cute in his little white suit, and he surprised Mama by sitting still during the program or so she told me.

You see, I was not there.

Two days before May Day I was not feeling well.

Mama told me to walk down to Dr. Sapp’s office and let him take a look at me.

While I was walking to his office, I began to feel really sick.

After he examined me, he called Mama and told her that he was taking me to the Gadsden Hospital and to meet us over there.

He was able to get my appendix out before it ruptured.

When the big day rolled around, I was in the hospital.

Mama brought my evening dress to the hospital and hung it on the back of the door for all to see.

It was supposed to make me feel better…but it didn’t.

Most of the class came to the hospital the day after May Day to see me, and that made me feel better.

God has a way of sometimes giving us a second chance at things we have missed out on, though.

Fast forward 67 years to the Senior Prom at Mulligan Park.

I was surprised it turned out to be such a big deal.

Everyone was so excited and talking about what they were going to wear and what jewelry would match it.

The staff went all out to decorate the room and not only was the food delicious, but the table was elegant.

They even had a photo booth for us.

A friend of mine, John Field, asked me to be his date for the prom. I wore an evening dress, and he wore one of those shirts that looked like a tux.

He brought me a beautiful wrist corsage made of white roses and I had a boutonniere for him.

There is just one little, tiny fact I forgot to mention - I was on a walker, and he was in a wheelchair, but we still walked in proud and sassy.

During the month of April, we had dance lessons every Monday night and the dance instructor came to

the prom and brought some dancers with him so the dance floor was crowded.

Some of the dancers even got John out of his wheelchair and danced with him in place and got me up and danced with me.

I think everyone had a great time.

When you dance the night away at Mulligan Park, that means from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m.

All in all It was a wonderful evening and even though it was a long time coming, I finally got to go to the prom.

‘Till next time keep on the sunny side. gwynnkidd@gmail.com

The Dirt Road Wonder – Well, I Finally Made It To The Prom

Gadsden County Times Legals – 5/5

Obituary: Leroy Gibson

Obituary: Leroy Gibson

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