Prom Drama Spells Proma

The tuxes have been ordered and the dresses fitted. Limo companies and florists are working overtime and openings at the hairdresser are hard to come by. It must mean that the Allen High School prom is approaching.

The anticipation and prom drama (let’s call it proma) reaches a fevered pitch in the days leading up to the prom each year. Face it, there is a lot of potential for disaster on a day that has such high expectations.

When you think about it, the prom is a great learning opportunity although kids certainly wouldn’t see it that way. It is a dry run for future class reunions and weddings and there are some good lessons to learn that mom and dad or schools can’t teach.

I learned a few lessons myself after attending two junior proms and two senior proms in my high school years. I share them now in the hopes that our prom-goers can learn from them.

Ask lots of questions before accepting a blind date for the prom. I attended a high school junior prom with a friend of a friend from another school. It was an awkward evening made even stranger by the large Polish family that greeted me at her home.

Seriously think twice about buying fashionable shoes. If you must wear platform shoes, borrow them since it is unlikely you will ever wear them again. I certainly didn’t.

The greater the number of couples in your group – the greater chance there will be proma. Two couples was the largest group I ever traveled with but Allen HS groups can exceed 20 people. That’s a lot of proma.

Don’t trust the guy at the tuxedo shop to tell you that you look great. That’s his job so get a second opinion. I chose yellow with a brown crushed velvet collar and wished I’d gone with the baby blue all evening.

If you borrow your dad’s car, stick to the planned driving route and clean out the car before returning it. We added an extra 60 miles on my father’s speedometer and never would have guessed he’d write down the mileage.

Getting pulled over for speeding isn’t cool – even if you’re wearing a tuxedo. Cruising 42 in a 35 mph zone with a carload of teenagers isn’t exactly risky behavior but it’s sure to attract the attention of police in the small town of Glen Ridge (NJ). Fortunately a written warning and well wishes for a great prom were all we received.

Buy a couple’s portrait and group picture at the prom. Thirty-seven years later I have two photos from prom nights – our portrait and group photo. If you plan to take your own photos, bring extra flash cubes and film cartridges.

Budget accordingly. It’s not your typical Saturday night date so bring an extra $3 for gas and $10 for dinner. Also keep a dime in your pocket for a phone call in case the car breaks down.
I hope this hard earned advice is helpful to prom goers this weekend and more importantly I hope everyone has a great proma-free prom.