Much of Cinderella’s story is about the wicked stepmother and her evil daughters.  But those nasty ladies get way too much airtime.

So much drama centered around their attempts to thwart Cinderella.  Oh the time taken by chatter about their malevolent ways.  It’s exhausting.  Too bad more focus isn’t given to Cinderella’s fairy godmother and other friends who lift her up, pamper her and teach her how to accept help even at the depths of her despair.

This week I had my own Cinderella story of sorts.

Nate’s cancer is the obvious villain of my story and I shall give it no more mention in this post.  Take that AML!

So let’s talk about the heroes.

But first, like all fairy tales, a little background …

Those of you who know Ted are keenly aware of his passion for presidential history and, in particular, his favorite: Number 16.

Years ago while dating I promised Ted we would visit at least one presidential site or attend an event per year.  I’m embarrassed to say that I may have even written this down on a piece of paper and wrapped it up as a Christmas gift.  Romantic right?

As what often happens with these type of “experience” gifts, I haven’t kept up.  Some years were good (Harry S. Truman Presidential Library, 2003; Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library, 2006; Lincoln bicentennial birthday celebration, 2009; Clinton Presidential Center, 2015).  As for the other years, our interests veered from history museums to children’s museums.

When I was thinking about what to get Ted for Valentine’s Day this year I fell back on our old theme and contemplated giving him a membership to the Lincoln Club of Delaware.   The gift included a black-tie event during which a prominent Lincoln scholar addresses the audience in celebration of President Lincoln’s birthday.  For Ted, there couldn’t be a better present.  Given my profession and interest in Lincoln, the membership would make me happy too.

There was just one problem. How would we be able to attend the gala with one child in the hospital and the other at home?  What about our outfits?  Where would we find time to shop?  Ted had not worn a tux since our wedding and I don’t have formal gowns gathering dust in the closet.  I spend my days in jeans and hadn’t had a hair cut since before Nate’s hospitalization.

Here’s where our Cinderella heroes come in.

When my friends heard about my gift idea for Ted they too became excited.  Each time I threw an obstacle in the way, they moved it.

“But I don’t have time to get a dress,”  I said.

“Rent the Runway!” they responded.

“But what about the kids? Who will watch them?” I pushed.

“Well you have more than one friend.  We’ve got this,”  they countered.

For the past three weeks my friends did everything they could to make sure Ted and I made it to our own ball.  They watched Nate so we could shop for a new tux.  They helped me pick out a fun dress and my dear friend, Patty, rented it for me on the fabulous Web site, Rent the Runway.  Another good friend, MC, loaned me earrings.  Friends watched Nate so that I could go and have my hair cut and styled and then took care of both boys for us for our evening out.

Before leaving for the gala Friday evening I took the arm of my husband who looked so dashing in his new tux.  I felt pretty spectacular too in the dazzling designer, emerald-sequined gown with trumpet hem.   We walked down the stairs of our home to see Sam wide-eyed and grinning ear to ear.

“Wow,” he said just before he left for his own fun evening out to bowl and eat pizza with his babysitter and her boyfriend.

On our way to the event, we stopped at the hospital to see MC, who was watching Nate.  How special we felt when she and Nate’s nurses made a big fuss over us.

“Do a prom pose!” they said, snapping pictures of us with the Nemours water tower in the background.

As for the night itself, we had such a great time.  We toasted President Lincoln.  We visited with friends and met new ones too.  We had great conversations and learned new things from the Club’s guest speaker.  We even stopped for a drink on the way home to rehash our evening out.

 

I realize I’m stretching it to try and connect Cinderella and Abraham Lincoln.  But they both did have gifts that weren’t initially appreciated by those around them.  Both also achieved a great liberation — one personal and one for a nation.  And for one night we felt free too, thanks to good friends who made it all happen and cheered us on along the way.