Hannah and Friends Date Night
January 27, 2010
Hannah and Friends resident Laura went on her first date on Wednesday
evening with Hannah and Friends drumming extraordinaire Dan.
Forty-seven-year-old Laura resides next door to the Eck Rec Center in
the Peter Schivarelli and Chicago Home. This was not only a first
date for Laura and thirty-five-year-old Dan but also the only date
that they have ever been on in their lives. Realizing that first
dates can be the cause of a few jitters, we also invited Hannah and
Friends Barn Manager Scott with his date Shelly for a double date.
The two couples were greeted at the Eck Rec Center by participants
from Hannah and Friends cooking class program. The cooking class
prepared a delicious meal of spaghetti and meatballs with garlic bread
and parmesan zucchini (grown in Hannah and Friends organic garden). A
candlelight dinner for four was set by the fireplace as Chicago music
played in the background. Hannah and Friends staff and volunteers
served as the waiters and waitresses to make the night spectacular for
the two beautiful ladies and handsome men. Laura and Shelly wore
their best blouses and displayed smiles worth a million bucks. Dan and
Scott were gentlemen and made sure their ladies had food first before
they ate. Occasionally, Scott would brag to Shelly, Laura, and Dan
about his job as the Barn Manager taking care of the horses at Hannah
and Friends every Friday. Shelly was so proud that her man loved
animals and was so great at what he did.
Even though Laura and Dan were a little nervous, they were both
thrilled that this night was planned just for them, Shelly, and
Scott. It was the beginning of a great friendship for Laura and Dan.
The evening was a true testament to the importance of friendships in
life for individuals with different abilities. Individuals with
different abilities want the same unconditional love and friendship
that we all value. They want to feel beautiful inside and out and
have others recognized that beauty as well. Following dinner, the two
couples dance to music by Chicago and took several photos in front of
the fireplace. As the evening came to an end, Dan nervously asked
Laura for her number. Laura gave Dan her number and said "just make
sure you don't lose this number in the laundry." Plans for second
dates are already in the works and Hannah and Friends will now be
taking reservations:)
