Prom Queen
So, it’s that time of year again: Prom. Sigh. Everywhere I go, I am reminded that it’s someone’s Prom. I went dress shopping at the mall last week and was surrounded by teen girls looking for the perfect dress for their perfect night. I thought that this season’s color palette was a little different. Pea green is a great color- for soup. I saw one dress that would be perfect for Glinda in a production of The Wizard of Oz. The selection wasn’t so bad that I went away empty-handed; I walked out with my Christmas dress for next year! But, I digress. Back to Prom; I have heard so much about kids spending obscene amounts of money this year on Hummer limos, shows and dinner that I was very surprised last Saturday when we went to Macayo for dinner and saw two couples in full Prom get-up noshing on chips and dip. I absolutely love Macayo, but for a Prom date? Come on! If there are any guys reading who have yet to go to Prom, don’t take your date to a local Mexican restaurant. That’s probably not the best way to score for the night. Remember that whole 80s post from a few weeks ago? Well, one of the girls only needed the big hair to look like she stepped out of a music video from 1985. Her dress looked like a big scrunched-up, red satin leg warmer. I couldn’t believe it. I told ya’ that it was coming back!
We also happen to know one of this year’s Prom Kings. He’s a great kid, but very “unique”. Back in the day, he would not have had a chance. You had to be the super jock or the guy who was “just friends” with all the girls to be elected Prom King. This kid dyes his hair and wears eyeliner more than his girlfriend! I guess times have changed. (What an “old” thing to say, hu?)
Some of you probably didn’t even notice all this Prom stuff, but I happen to be obsessed with Proms, because I was denied the experience way back when. Sniff. Sniff. Wait. I need a Kleenex… No, Miss “Goood Morning Clark High School!” was not asked to Prom or any other dance for that matter. Shallow High School Alert: My two regrets from my high school experience are not joining the Varsity Cheer Squad when I had the chance and not attending my Senior Prom. Somewhere in my head I had this crazy notion that you had to have a date to go to Prom, but honestly I was one of the few people who could have gone alone and not been labeled a complete loser. My girlfriends tried to get me to just join their groups of couples, but I just couldn’t bring myself to do it. The two lesbian girls I knew where very inviting, but I respectfully declined. Even though I might not have really been a loser, I definitely felt like one. Here’s why: Even my parents felt so bad for me that they tried to hook me up with every dorky high school aged guy they could think of. My mom actually asked a guy that she worked with who was in his early twenties to take me. The fun thing about that was that she would have had to pay for his tux rental, dinner, corsage, etc. That’s a good way to build up your insecure daughter’s self-esteem- buy her a date! I appreciate that she knew how important it was to me, but I had to turn that offer down as well. In great desperation, I was even open to attending the Prom on the arm of my good friend’s 8th grade brother. Shoot! I would have taken my own brother if we didn’t have such a close resemblance! Alas, I gave up, licked my wounds and went with my mom and brother to see the re-release of Star Wars at the Dollar Theater while all of my friends got dressed up and partied the night away. I was comforted to see two other Clark Seniors at Star Wars and not Prom, but they were the anti-establishment types that probably made a conscious decision not to support such a shallow adolescent right of passage.
As the years have marched on, my brother attended Prom five or six times, so he more than made up for my not going, and I married a Prom King! Obviously, I have not gotten over missing the Prom. With friends teaching at different valley high schools, I have honestly considered volunteering to be a chaperone just so I could finally go. I swear if there is ever another local Second Chance Prom, I am definitely going. No one can stop me! I will go alone this time if I have to. I’ll slip into one of my twenty-or-so formals, put on one of my tiaras and bask in all my belated Prom glory.
We also happen to know one of this year’s Prom Kings. He’s a great kid, but very “unique”. Back in the day, he would not have had a chance. You had to be the super jock or the guy who was “just friends” with all the girls to be elected Prom King. This kid dyes his hair and wears eyeliner more than his girlfriend! I guess times have changed. (What an “old” thing to say, hu?)
Some of you probably didn’t even notice all this Prom stuff, but I happen to be obsessed with Proms, because I was denied the experience way back when. Sniff. Sniff. Wait. I need a Kleenex… No, Miss “Goood Morning Clark High School!” was not asked to Prom or any other dance for that matter. Shallow High School Alert: My two regrets from my high school experience are not joining the Varsity Cheer Squad when I had the chance and not attending my Senior Prom. Somewhere in my head I had this crazy notion that you had to have a date to go to Prom, but honestly I was one of the few people who could have gone alone and not been labeled a complete loser. My girlfriends tried to get me to just join their groups of couples, but I just couldn’t bring myself to do it. The two lesbian girls I knew where very inviting, but I respectfully declined. Even though I might not have really been a loser, I definitely felt like one. Here’s why: Even my parents felt so bad for me that they tried to hook me up with every dorky high school aged guy they could think of. My mom actually asked a guy that she worked with who was in his early twenties to take me. The fun thing about that was that she would have had to pay for his tux rental, dinner, corsage, etc. That’s a good way to build up your insecure daughter’s self-esteem- buy her a date! I appreciate that she knew how important it was to me, but I had to turn that offer down as well. In great desperation, I was even open to attending the Prom on the arm of my good friend’s 8th grade brother. Shoot! I would have taken my own brother if we didn’t have such a close resemblance! Alas, I gave up, licked my wounds and went with my mom and brother to see the re-release of Star Wars at the Dollar Theater while all of my friends got dressed up and partied the night away. I was comforted to see two other Clark Seniors at Star Wars and not Prom, but they were the anti-establishment types that probably made a conscious decision not to support such a shallow adolescent right of passage.
As the years have marched on, my brother attended Prom five or six times, so he more than made up for my not going, and I married a Prom King! Obviously, I have not gotten over missing the Prom. With friends teaching at different valley high schools, I have honestly considered volunteering to be a chaperone just so I could finally go. I swear if there is ever another local Second Chance Prom, I am definitely going. No one can stop me! I will go alone this time if I have to. I’ll slip into one of my twenty-or-so formals, put on one of my tiaras and bask in all my belated Prom glory.
posted by Unknown at 7:01 PM
8 Comments:
No one actually asked me to prom. I threatened my best guy friend (who was a junior) and told him he HAD to take me to prom.
We ended up getting stuck at the restaurant we chose and only got about 20 minutes at the dance, so my group was a little disappointed.
I understand your feelings. I feel a little sad that I had to force someone to take me. Ha ha.
BTW, 94.1 holds a second chance prom every year, and they charge $9.41 for pictures and tickets. Also, it's over-21.
Great! I am so there! Do you happen to know when it is this year?
hey Des,
I actually told Katie this one...I went last week to my first ever Greek social. It was Delta Gamma's Cream Rose formal dance, and I went with a friend and her roommate (who conveniently went with another of my RA friends. That worked out nice) but anyways, it was pretty much exactly like Prom, except there was no slow dancing and people were waaaaaaaay drunker than they ought to have been. I think the fact that we had a bar accounted for part of that, although many of them arrived drunk. go figure. Greeks and alcohol? Anyways, I just thought it was pretty cool, but the comparison with Prom was an astute one in my opinion. Basically, it meant that it was really no different from any other formal gathering (weddings, etc) there was dancing (but no slow dancing, it was all hip hop. ugh) and food, and mostly people running into each other and greeting one another. It was great. I saw like 6 of my fraternity brothers and guys I knew from many other frats. I spent some time dancing and hanging with my friend and our dates, but mostly it was just a c\hance to catch up and talk and stuff. no biggie. So that was pretty much how I remember Prom too...sobasically, my point is, ya didn't really miss anything more than you'd find at a good wedding reception. yeah, thats it. Hope all is well!
oh yeah...I think that Macayos is a GREAT place for a prom dinner....at least if you're going as friends. Bowling in formal wear? great fun! again, at least if you are friends. I'm sure its different if it is someone that you are trying to date. :)
Thanks you guys! :) Love ya'!
Well, I was voted into the prom royalty but still no one asked me to go to the dance. I had to ask some guy and I didn't really have fun. I only stayed long enough for pictures and the King & Queen results and left. I spent entirely too much money for a dress that I've worn twice and never intend to wear again. But I would definately suggest the 2nd chance prom thing if they are doing it this year, you'd probably have more fun now than you would've had when you were in high school.
That's very true! I wanted to be on Court just for the tiara. :)Hey, Anthony probably would have taken you if he'd known that you were available!
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