<p>Now that would be a prom worth going to!</p>
<p>I did not go to mine, not interested. Boyfriend and I went to see “Hair”
instead.</p>
<p>What’s interesting was how over-the-top my mother’s initial reaction was,
she said “Well, if you don’t go to prom…you’re not going anywhere else that
night either!” It cracked me up…</p>
<p>NM, ouch…people jealous of you and they don’t realize you have the </p>
<p>intimidation issue to deal with, lonely at the top.</p>
<p>cottonwood, even if boys are intimidated by NorthMinnesota’s daughter – and I think that’s perfectly possible, given how easily teenagers (and some adults!) are intimidated by the opposite sex – that doesn’t mean her daughter is sad about not going to the prom, and it doesn’t mean she needs sympathy because she’s not going to the prom. It also doesn’t mean people are jealous of NorthMinnesota. </p>
<p>Here’s a true story for you: J, whom I’ve known since high school, said he asked L, another friend of mine in high school, to the prom because he “wanted to have fun.” It wasn’t because he liked her in any special way, but because he thought she’d “put out,” as we said back then. He didn’t tell me this back then (he’s a year younger than I, and I was off doing the college thing when his prom came around), but in a conversation with others in adulthood (as in, after he, and the rest of us, were well in our forties). </p>
<p>It made me feel bad for L, with whom I lost touch shortly after high school, because she may have thought – hoped – that J, who was popular in high school, really liked her. After all, the prom is pretty special, right? That’s what all the adults around high schoolers say, anyway, and OMG, to not go to the prom… WHAT a TRAGEDY!!! </p>
<p>Yeah, my mom was disappointed that I didn’t go to mine. I didn’t want to go with just anyone, just to go to the prom; it wasn’t that important to me. <em>I</em> was okay with it; I thought it silly that my mother thought I just had to be upset about it. I wasn’t! It really was okay!</p>
<p>I can well understand a parent’s disappointment when a kid doesn’t go to the prom; most of us don’t often get to see our teenagers all decked out in fancy clothes and looking just so lovely or handsome. So I understand NM’s disappointment, but if her daughter really is okay with it, the one who deserves the sympathy here is NM, for not having the moment she wanted. Acknowledge her (stated) disappointment, but don’t assume her D feels it, too. D has said she’s okay; good for her!</p>
<p>Owlice, that’s pretty much what I said in my post earlier. </p>
<p>I didn’t go to my prom either. I can’t go into the first reason because it is too specific, but the other reason is that my BF at the time was in college and was going to be working out of town at that point. A guy who I was friends with asked me to go with him, and I agreed, but then quickly backed out because one of my best friends had liked this guy since freshman year and I didn’t want her to feel bad that I was going with him instead of her going with him, especially as I knew she was going without a date. Going to the prom was just not that big a deal to me - I could have gone with a date or with a group of girls - I just chose not to. Do I regret it? Not really, except that I think my D feels sorry for me…lol. She even told her BF that I missed my prom! I neglected to tell her that although I hadn’t gone to my own prom, I had gone to another guy friend’s prom, mainly because I forgot everything about it - including the name of my date…lol.</p>
<p>mythmom,
I love the description of what your town does for Prom. How inclusive in the best possible way. :)</p>
<p>Yes, it’s very special, and all the merchants donate things. My D worked at S’s prom and H took the pictures. </p>
<p>The kids are happy to have the parents around, and the parents dress up as dictated by the theme.</p>
<p>The parents meet in Oct. and vote on the theme. There an artisan in twon who has donated thousands and thousands of hours to helping. We schlep, paint, anything that needs doing.</p>
<p>Some themes have been: The orient express, Egypt (complete with hierogyphics provided by two linguists for their son’s year, Cirque de Soleil (my D’s) and Pirates of Our Town (My S’s.) It’s really more of a party than prom, and my D’s year there was a party the next niht the parents could attend to enjoy the ambience before the entire set was deconstructed. And all come out at 6 am on that day and have the school returned to its normal state by 10. The only thing that makes me sad is the money collected and spent. $40K is collected, and if there’s been a hurricane, a tsunami, just starvation I feel uncomfortable with that kind of money for a one night party. Then tickets are still $100.00, so you can just imagine how much money is being spent. Only about 150 kids go or less; there are about 90 in a graduating class and many go together.</p>
<p>The parents looked at me as if I had ten heads when I talked about setting aside some of the money for those less fortunate as a donation from the class. It seems all they can think about is that little Johnny or Suzie (apologies to those very nice names) has a good time.</p>
<p>Hi All! Sorry I have been away! D2’s HS track team won State True Team last night!!! Hooray! What excitement! We have been celebrating!!! (Uh oh…this might compromise my anonymity! 
)</p>
<p>Yes, D2 doesn’t mind about her prom…it’s just me, the old fashioned one! LOL! I have to laugh at the “intimidated” comment too…she is a quiet girl so that’s why I was surprised at that description! She doesn’t mind because none of her friends are going…none! I was shocked as were many of the parents but I guess the girls really don’t care. She is also young for her grade so that probably is a factor too! On a good note she has had an awesome jr year with lots of accolades and opportunities! I was just whining…mea culpa! ;)</p>
<p>Mythmom, what a great Prom story. I love stories of communities working together to make something special happen. </p>
<p>Congrats NMinn. for you and your Ds track team!</p>
<p>I didn’t go to my prom, knew no one who did. Never crossed my radar. Seems amazing now. My HS was sufficiently polarized that none of us hippie kids in the early '70s had anything to do with such matters.</p>
<p>NMinn - Congrats to your D and her track team. WooHoo! </p>
<p>Oh, and you’re allowed to whine - that’s partly what this thread is for, right?</p>
<p>Thanks Ladies! Oh and I am indulging with some cheese for that wine…errrr…whine!
Ok Owlice…I do have the munchies after all the celebrations this week…pass the appetizers, please! That bday cake was really delish and now wine tonight! I really need to do extra walking tomorrow!</p>
<p>Mythmom…H and I worked D1’s prom. What fun! We worked the casino/black jack tables. I had no idea what I was doing but had tons of fun!</p>
<p>Yay! You got to have fun. Such a bittersweet time. I can’t believe my second just finished his frosh year. He loved it so much he is actually sad, even though he is just about finished with work!!</p>
<p>NorthMinnesota, what I have to offer at the moment is fresh-out-of-the-oven chocolate chip cookies! </p>
<p>Congrats to your offspring on the meet! Yay!!!</p>
<p>I can also offer apple, pear, and gorgonzola cheese wrapped in pastry, but I can’t put those little delectables in the oven until all the cookies are done. :)</p>
<p>Owlice, those appetizers sound scrumptious! I’ll wait until they’re done! You may have to tell me how to make those too. We aren’t planning to have company for awhile, so would it be decadent for me to make them for just H and me? Pretty sure kids wouldn’t touch them…lol. I am going to a barbecue next weekend for Memorial Day, but somehow that crowd calls for something less sophisticated.</p>
<p>Goodness Owlice! You sure know how to tempt me!!! I love gorgonzola with pears!!! Have you ever stuffed mushroom caps with gorgonzola and then wrapped them in puff pastry and then bake??? Yummo!!</p>
<p>Oh, I love a salad with baby greens, pears, Gorgonzola, toasted pecans and a lovely vinaigrette. But I’m going to make little tarts with lemon curd and raspberries topped with fresh whipped cream. Can you tell my kid is home?</p>
<p>Yum! This thread is making me hungry once again. I don’t have any fancy goodies, but am happy to offer peanut butter cookies as I baked a batch today.</p>
<p>Bethievt, how happy you must be to have your son home for the summer.</p>
<p>No goodies here either, I’m afraid. I’m roasting a chicken and potatoes, if anybody would like some - there’s plenty to go around.</p>
<p>bethie - I just got a sad look from my D because we ran out of raspberries, blueberries and mangos, and I forgot to replenish our supply when I went to the supermarket. I don’t know how I forgot - I buy them every single day - but I did. We aren’t fruitless - we still have grapes, clementines, strawberries, apples and bananas - so she should survive.</p>
<p>Yum-- you are all making my mouth water! we’re having leftovers turned into a stir-fry. But I do love a pear, gorgonzola and walnut salad with raspberry vinaigrette.</p>
<p>LIMOM, your fruit array sounds heavenly!</p>