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Daddy, daughter share bond at dance
Jemsy Pradun, 10, shares a laugh with her father John, during a father and daughter dance at the River Grove American Legion Center on Friday. | Adam Alexander~For Sun Times Media
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Updated: November 26, 2012 6:27AM
RIVER GROVE — As with many fathers and daughters, John Pradun and his daughter Jemsy Pradun share a special connection.
And the two had the chance to celebrate that connection Oct. 19 at the annual Daddy Daughter Dance, held at the River Grove American Legion Center. Pradun and his daughter look forward to the event all year.
“This is what memories are made of,” John Pradun said. “There are a lot of things that are put on by the village and the school, but this is something just for the dads and the daughters. My daughter is my world.”
Pradun attended the dance last year and was the first one to sign up again this year.
“Last year at the Daddy Daughter Dance, we had a picture taken that Jemsy put on her dresser,” he said. “Throughout the whole year, all the other pictures have come and gone. The one that stayed there was the one from last year’s Daddy Daughter Dance.
“We’ve been talking about it all year,” he added. “We will never miss it again. That’s what life is really all about.”
Jemsy Pradun, 10, attends River Grove School and feels the same way about spending time with her dad.
“He’s really funny and cool,” she said. “He is the best dad ever.”
Jemsy Pradun said the dance offered a lot of cool music, heart-shaped cookies and food.
John Pradun also likes to swim, play tennis, ride bikes, color, play chess, carve pumpkins, build snow men, go horseback riding and play catch with his daughter. He plans on returning to the dance next year.
“It was a beautiful, beautiful time. We are both going to remember that night forever,” he said. “Out of all the things we do together, out of all the toys, it’s the Daddy Daughter Dance that we’ll remember forever.”
