By Emma Piascik and Alexandra Monfalcone
As guests began to file into the Morristown High School Intergenerational Prom, July McDaniel’s eyes began to glisten with tears at the sight of her alma mater.
“I know everything up to where the ladies room is!” exclaimed the 1972 graduate, who reminisced about eating lunch in the same cafeteria where she now sat for the “IProm.”
Friday’s 19th annual IProm hosted 136 guests from residential- and nursing homes in Morristown, Morris Township, and Morris Plains.
Morristown High School students and alumni waited on tables and interacted with the guests.
“It’s great watching them relive their younger years,” said Marisa Joel, a rising sophomore at Rutgers University, who returned for her fifth year as a volunteer.
MHS senior Erin Lade said she loves greeting the senior citizens and seeing “how excited they are to have a night out.”
The menu began with hors d’oeuvres of mozzarella sticks and mini quiches, leading to a scrumptious chicken dinner with a side of salad and baked ziti.
Many of the guests soon found their way to the dance floor, and the biggest moment of the evening: The crowning of the IProm King and Queen.
This year’s winners were Art and Shirley, an inspiring couple who have been married for 67 years. The King received his crown, the Queen received her tiara, and both were awarded a beautiful bouquet of flowers.
But those flowers didn’t stay in their hands for long. Though it took Art a little while to walk over to the dance floor, when Shirley asked if he could still dance, he promptly responded: “OH yeah!”
The two began a slow dance that melted away the years and had everyone in the cafeteria smiling, and left a few crying, too.
The Intergenerational Prom always brings back feelings of nostalgia, happiness, and reassurance that true love does indeed exist.
And though Friday’s dance was for senior citizens, people from different backgrounds put aside their age differences to come together and dance the night away.
The young and the young at heart had a blast.
Emma Piascik and Alexandra Monfalcone are seniors at Morristown High School. Piascik is heading to Lafayette College this fall, and Monfalcone will attend the University of Michigan.
