Jackson Free Press

This year I attended two proms (making a total of three proms in my lifetime). I must say, the proms that I have attended were entertaining, the music was all the latest, the food was good, and the fact that I got to hang with my friends was all well.

Unfortunately, this presents a huge problem in my book. IT WAS PROM NIGHT! Prom is supposed to be one of the BEST nights of my life. The fact that everything was good is not good enough.

When I think of prom, I think of all the teen movies and books that I have been exposed to. They always have such a great time at prom. They dance and prom king and queen are announced and everybody get's all excited because they thought it would be that other girl who has the really pretty hair and nice make-up, but instead it was actually the one that hardly anyone ever notices and they ask whether it was a cruel joke gone good or what?! Nonetheless, my proms have been none of this. Entertaining? Yes. Outstanding? Not at all.

What I can attest to is that the pre- and post-prom adventures were things that will go down in my memory book, for sure. My junior prom was interesting. My date and I have been good friends for a number of years, and we decided to go to prom together as we had planned since the first day that we met. However, after-prom stuff didn't happen the way we had planned. Instead of us going to Wal-Mart and playing with the new toys on the toy isle, she dropped me off at home to go to sleep for the night, while her Knight-in- shining-armor came to get her for some late night pizza and movies. Sigh, such the prom night flop.

My second prom was okay. I had fun. We went to the bowling alley. However, they were about to close, and by the time an isle opened, it would be too late to enjoy the game. So, afterwards we went to I.H.O.P. for delicious 1-in-the-morning breakfast.

The people I went with were great. We talked and got to know each other: college plans, relationships, and just general conversation were the premise of the night. It was very refreshing to discover that I'm not the only person who lives inside my mind. After scarfing down a huge plate of strawberry banana, French-toast sticks, and apple juice, it was time to go home for a nice rest.

Now, prom number 3 was more entertaining on the front hand. Before prom about 20 seniors and dates gathered at Red Lobster to indulge in seafood. The funniest thing was that the girls did not want to go, because they didn't want to go to prom smelling like seafood. In general, the guys were more excited about the food. I was in that crowd! I enjoyed seeing everyone dressed up. Who knew that everybody would look so beautiful! The food was really good, and Lord, I laughed like I had never laughed before!

Interestingly enough, the pre- and post-prom adventures were more exciting than the prom itself. This makes me wonder whether the movies are creating false stories, or do we just not know how to make a prom work in MS. Regardless of what the situation may be, I'm glad that that part is over. GRADUATION HERE I COME!!!