Reflecting over the years, there is one dress that stands out. The year was 1969 and I was in my last year of nursing school. Our Grad Prom was scheduled for May and, two weeks before the dance, I had neither a date nor a dress. My mother, who was struggling with a recurrence of cancer, suggested that I call an old boyfriend. I immediately got on the phone. He picked up on the first ring and agreed readily. Now, the bigger question – what to wear?

My mom suggested we go downtown to Kingsmill’s – a wonderful London department store that sold high-end fabric among other things. She and I spent over two hours there – searching through pattern books, deciding on the “right pattern” and then rummaging through the fabric to find one that would work. I was still in school and had very little money. When I came across some gorgeous silk, I knew I had to have it; but, the cost was too high. My mom suggested that I use the silk for the “bodice” (as we called it then) and find some plainer fabric for the long skirt. I needed only one yard of silk and that I could afford easily. I spent the next couple of days at home, sewing and visiting with my mom (I was living in residence at the time). It was so wonderful to have something other than my mom’s illness to focus on.

My mom helped with the hand sewing and showed me how to make a sash out of the leftover silk. The dress was soooooooo beautiful: a V-necked bodice, made from a chocolate brown and off-white floral silk; the skirt was an off-white linen – A-line to the floor. I prayed for the sun to shine some time in the next two weeks so that I could get a tan in time for the dance. Even that worked!

On the evening of the prom, my date arrived and gasped as he gazed at the dress. We had a great time and he asked me to attend a fraternity function the next weekend. The rest is history: we became engaged a few months later, and married almost a year to the day later! My mother, of course, was thrilled as it was her idea! As it turned out, that was the last time my mom and I had such an experience. We moved to Indiana immediately after being married and Mom got very sick shortly thereafter. I often think about that dress and wish that I had kept it; but I had no idea at the time how special a memory it would become.

Heather Erskine, London, Ont.