Happy World Down Syndrome Day (tomorrow)! We love being a part of a thriving community.
When I met with Leah this week to discuss writing about her Bachelorette, she responded, “well, I don’t really think that I watch that show.” She can always bring the biggest smile to my face. We squared away the confusion and Leah got to writing.
A very special day of my life was The Bachelorette Day Party. It make me feel excited to have a beautiful Bachelorette Day Party with my sisters and my mom and my whole family. It touch my heart very much. I think my mom and my sisters give me a lot of joy when they give and plan a Bachelorette Day for me that I will cherish it all through my life.
It was a day of things that I like and love to do. I think of and text a lot of things that I like and love to do to my mom and they plan these things for me and also they plan things to surprise me too. I do like surprises too. It is important to do things before my Forever Love Ceremony to celebrate the big day.
In the morning on the Day of the Bachelorette Day I start to get ready for the day. I was starting to get hungry and I think I have two or three peanut butter crackers to tide me over and a little later I have a Chick Fil-A Grilled Chicken Sandwich for lunch before the early dinner. It taste really good.
During that day I was listen to Bachelorette Day Music on my TV on Pandora and I was listen to Cyndi Lauper Girls Just Want to Have Fun.
At first we start and go to the nail salon at the mall at I think at Westroads or Crossroads and I have done a manicure. I pick out the nail color and the color it is coral pink polish to match my Forever Love colors and I dry it under the nail dryer. It is a surprise thing to do with my mom and sister Lindsay.
On Bachelorette Day when we went to The Cheesecake Factory we have a Appetizer and I have a Shirley Temple with extra cherry grenadine and I also have Cheesecake for dessert after my meal. I think it was Plain original cheesecake with strawberry on top.
I got some Bachelorette Day Presents too. I open them at dinner and put all of the things on with the rings and the bride sash around me and a silver crown in my hair. That makes me feel beautiful inside in my heart.
We have put fake glitter tattoos on our arms and then we went to see Henry Hey perform. We meet our family we have in town and they join to be a part of my special day. I went up on stage with Henry Hey at the piano and I play Clair de Lune on the piano on stage.
Then my sisters Lindsay and Megan take me to a place called RENOS KARAOKE and I got myself a special drink. I think it was cherry lemonade with orange juice. I like it and love it and it taste really good. I say Wow that taste good.
At the end of the day on my Bachelorette day we stop by the Gas Station and I got chocolate milk with Grandma’s Chocolate Chip cookies. When I got home I take some time to rest and unwind and rest my stomach before getting ready for bed.
I have a lot of surprises and wonderful enjoyable things to do that was in the plan. To participate in my Bachelorette Day Party light up my day and it touch my heart in a big special beautiful way.
It was such a fun phone call to make to our sister Megan last year to brainstorm ideas for Leah’s Bachelorette Party. This was yet another piece that I wasn’t sure would be included in Leah’s puzzle o’ life.
Upon mentioning a “Bachelorette Party” to Leah, her immediate response was, “umm… I don’t know I want to have… you know… any strip clubs or anything like that. Or not do like what they do on Saved by the Bell with Zach and Kelly in Las Vegas.”
It should come to you as no surprise that Leah isn’t much of a rebel — it’s just not in her nature. Her authentic purity is one of the most endearing and upside down aspects of who she is. Life can’t harden her heart or her mind. In fact, anytime she learns of a celebrity who has made a mistake (or two…or seven), her response is always, “I think maybe they going through a tough time right now.” And she always believes, with her whole heart, that they will bounce back.
It’s no wonder the term “Bachelorette Party” made her feel uneasy. She was basing her vision off of TV and movie moments filled with booze, bars, and some bare un-necessities;). After Megan and I assured her that we’d keep it G-rated, she was all in.
Per Leah’s request, our mom would join in for dinner at The Cheesecake Factory. Oh, and we definitely couldn’t forget dad! After indulging in all of the desserts, we met him to watch our aunt’s brother perform a show. Leah got to play piano on stage alongside him during one of his set breaks, which completely made her day. We were a bit late to Karaoke (transitions can be a bit of a challenge for the Stodden squad), but have no fear, Leah’s charm was there. Leah scored us an extra hour in the Karaoke Room, on the house of course. Did we swing by the liquor store on our way home for a night cap? Nope, not us. We stopped for a late night snack of chocolate milk and cookies from QuikTrip.
Once again, social norms don’t really hold a candle to Leah’s life. She dances to her own beat — usually accompanied by Celine Dion, Linda Ronstadt, songs associated with any celebration/holiday that is occurring, or tunes performed by any American Idol contestant. I’ve gotta say, although our music preferences often differ, her beat is one that I could get used to. And why shouldn’t I? The girl just wants to have fun.
Here’s to turning our minds Upside Down.
This so beautifully captured our special celebration! Leah’s bachelorette is one of my all time favorite memories. A kind of surreal moment that made me stop, take-in and appreciate everything that was happening with so much joy for my sister. All of our hearts were exploding the whole time. I never knew how fun karaoke in a private room with your two sisters could be. Love you guys Megan