We are entering an exciting time of year. Angst, excitement and the sweetness of dreams in the making fill the air. Before you reach for your brackets, you should know that I am NOT talking about March Madness.
This month launches the “will you go to prom with me” season. I am sure things have changed since I was obsessed with going to prom. It was long ago in the age of Aquanet, oversized hairdos and over-the-top fashion, otherwise known as the ’80s. Hard to believe that was more than 40 years ago; I remember living through prom anxiety like it was yesterday.
Most of the girls in my high school opted for poofy, Antebellum-inspired gowns, with full skirts and lots of ruffles. Today, teenage girls tend to go for a more, how shall I put it, sleek and minimalist prom look. I was more of a sleek girl, but definitely not minimalist.
One thing hasn’t changed. Just as sure as the spring equinox will happen at 5:01 AM on March 20 this year, teenagers everywhere will be fretting, hoping and planning for prom. By the time St. Patrick’s Day arrives, the push will be on to get a prom date. March 11 has actually been dubbed National Promposal Day.
Back in the ’80s, young men would awkwardly ask you to go to prom in the hall after gym class or something like that. Today it is not uncommon for some sort of very elaborate, public and well-choreographed mini-event. Imagine walking down a school hallway sprinkled with rose petals and love notes written on posters held by friends before gathering a bouquet of roses and meeting a would-be date at the end. I totally stole that from Teen Vogue, and apparently, someone really did that. How could you say no?
There’s nothing like the agony of enduring a prom date attempting to pin a corsage to your gown. A wrist corsage is actually a better move. What am I talking about? These days girls get full bouquets instead of corsages.
The tactics and accessories have changed, but the full-blown angst is the same as it ever was. Pining for a date, trying to find a dress that no one else at the prom will be wearing, matching said dress to a tie and cummerbund or vest, and begging your dad to let you borrow his sweet ride for the big night – those things still happen.
At some schools, parents play a bigger role in the prom experience. In fact, gone are the days of getting someone older to rent a hotel room where you could party with all your friends after the dance.
It is not unusual to have kids meet at the school and take buses to the prom venue. No spiking the punch at 21st century proms. No matter the logistics, if I could turn back time, I would do it all again. Prom is a rite of passage, and not one angst-ridden moment of the experience should be missed.
The best thing about prom is the shared experience with kids you grew up with. In a few months, I will be planning my 40th high school reunion. We will all be a little older, wiser and less anxious – but the time spent together will be every bit as precious.
