LYNN — Kenny Burton never went to his high school prom. But Friday morning, the 60-year-old tied a bandana around his neck and enjoyed the dance with his “second family”.
For the fifth consecutive year, PondView Lodge Adult Day Health Center hosted a senior prom for its elder members. This year was western-themed. Burton, with a shiver of excitement, said he spent the last few weeks getting his “get-up” together. Along with a bandana, he sported a cowboy hat, vest, and a silver-star sheriff-style badge.
“I’ve been coming here for almost two years and this is my second prom,” he said. “Last year, everyone voted me in as the prom king. I can’t tell you how surprised I was. It’s important to have this because it brings back a lot of good memories for some of my friends.”
After losing his wife 17 years ago to a heart condition, Burton said he was in a dark place before joining PondView Lodge. The center is a new, second family to him and it’s the only reason he gets out of the house, he added.
Jack Harrington, 70, expressed the same sentiments about the adult day health center. It saved his life, he said, and it’s also where he met his girlfriend of one month, Beverly Daggett.
“I’ve been here nine years and Beverly is the first girlfriend I’ve ever met here,” he said. “I liked her from the first time I saw her, but I guess I was just really shy.”
Harrington said he never dances, but she got him out of his seat on Friday and made him dance with her the entire time. Draggett, who was last year’s prom queen alongside Burton, danced from the moment the music started until it ended, Harrington said, and he couldn’t help but get hooked into dancing right along with her.
“I’m covered in sweat because Jack and I have been dancing the entire time,” said Daggett, 75. “This prom is so nice. A lot of us came to PondView Lodge and didn’t have anybody. Now we’re all friends and get to enjoy this together.”
After the live entertainment from Jim Moses quieted down, and before homemade chili was served for lunch, the staff at PondView Lodge announced the winners of this year’s prom king and queen.
When Harrington’s name was called as prom king, Daggett couldn’t help but stand up and clap for her boyfriend. A drum roll ensued before the queen was announced, and when 91-year-old Joan A. was called, the whole room roared in applause.
The king and queen enjoyed a western-style first dance as the 2019 PondView Lodge senior prom court.
Alesha Casella, PondView Lodge’s activity director, introduced the senior prom to the adult day center when she first got hired five years ago. She thought it was the perfect way to make the elder members feel special and important, she said.
“They’ve been talking about the prom all year and have been planning their dates and outfits for weeks,” Casella said. “I think coming here gives them somewhere to fit in. Otherwise, a lot of them are sitting at home and become really lonely. They’ve found a community here for themselves.”
