Amazing! Amber looks fetching, no wait stunning, maybe not? I mean she looks good but I am trying to find something that incorporates wow and alluring, elegant just beautiful.
The dress is simple but flattering, simple off the shoulder shawl, halter style cocktail black dress with a split to the knee. Used to seeing her in yoga pants and t-shirts or a wet suit like mine, think she may surf or is modest, but damn, here before me she is hot.
Her hair down, done in wavy curls and in those curls of her's creates a frame of her face, I noticed she is wearing makeup, some earrings, some bracelets and a few layers necklaces.
My family jokes that they need pictures since I didn't do any of the school dances and this feels like a prom style photo op Amber just smiles and said "That's sweet, make sure I get a copy" We do the poses, I hug everyone and use the walker to get to Amber's car.
We talked about why I didn't do the school danced and some other stuff, we found that yes it is true we both had been focused on careers and not so much in finding love.
She has a wheelchair parking card to put in the window and places it in the windshield I said she could have dropped me off in front and parked, she explained she has one for talking patients to appointments and felt it was called for in this one, suggested my dad may have done the same, she may be right.
We get inside, every one seems happy to see me, but I noticed Amber she seemed mesmerized by it, she comes closer and I mention every year I look forward to the food, she smiles "Here I thought it was the trophy", I do find myself enjoying her company.
We make our way to the table we have been assigned to, it's close to the stage and I noticed they had a ramp, I fight back the feeling that I may cry, moved to almost tears at how I feel respected.
The entertainment starts, I noticed that Amber does have a beautiful smile that I am enjoying seeing, she even started acting like it was a date, with a touch here and there, leaning into me on some parts, a few times referred to me as dear when asking if I wanted a refill of water, and I noticed I liked it.
Time for the meal, this year it appears to be chicken pramison, fettuccine Alfredo, garlic buns with three cheese, and a selection of cheesecake for dessert, I tried the caramel pumpkin, with chocolate whipped cream and it was fantastic. I asked the waiter if I can take some home for my birthday next week if there is some left over and allowed, and if they had any hot chocolate that would really be the best follow up for that dessert, I got extra chocolate whipped cream on top of my hot chocolate and he wished me a happy early birthday.
Time for awards.
I am nervous, worried I will fall flat on my face, my walker is beside me, I wanted to be fully walking no wheelchair no walker fully me but as much headway as I made my left leg was seriously damaged and I may have to face a limp long term but I will keep going and give it my best shot.
Even with my thoughts running wild every time there was a clap I joined the applause and kept smiling then the host announced a special surprise.
"Tonight's main feature is dedicated to a young man who has devoted his life the fast lane" that sounds like Dad's voice.
"All to often tributes are done after the loss of life, but we are grateful he is still here." yup that is Dad's voice, I may cry in public tonight.
"He raced his way into many hearts and set records becoming legendary, recently he scared us all, we didn't want to know the world without him, co workers noticed the absentances of his smile and encouragement at work, competitors noticed a lack of push to beat the best, truly respected for racing clean working hard" tearing up here.
"Please watch this video" A video of my life is on the big screen, the narrative comes on, still my Dad's voice.
"His Mother grateful for his need for speed enjoyed a short labor, he quickly took to feed and meeting milestones, he even learned to crawl fast" relieved they didn't show the birth video, just baby photos and footage of me crawling.
"Awe how cute" I hear Amber say.
"He didn't waste much time before moving on to walking, then running, then when I got him his trike he started racing our neighbors son who had just moved in, a beautiful friendship began" photos of Tony and I as a sideshow, this is well done.
"As soon as he was old enough he began his racing career, soap box racing, go carts, dirt bikes then road racing in more then one series, right there with his best friend" yes I feel tears, Amber noticed she pulls out tissues and is drying them off.
"He kept working towards being the best racer he could be, stayed humble, worked on the cars, put in hours with testing and fabrication." sure he leaves out learning that from him, the scene has shown photos of the majority of my racing career.
"Growing up he knew about fair play, a champion is someone who helps others succeed so without public fanfare he helped others with their cars so it could be a fair race, to be the best you must beat the best at their best, he never made any of his charity work public but gave money to camps, make a wish Fondation and more, he would pass up on many events to read or play with children in the hospital, as parents we have always been proud of our son, many of you know how heartbreaking it was when his mom, my wife got sick, he never once complained and help me take care of her, it's time he knows he is appreciated and respected" waterworks over here.
The well done slide show ends, the scene goes up, there is Dad, Tony and his wife and the girls, Amber grinning ear to ear, "were you in on this?" she hands me more tissue and softly says "yes".
"Please welcome to the stage this years champion Jonathan Moose" a standing ovation, thundering applause, some tears on my part and Amber helping me to the stage.