Sunday, June 6, 2010

Senior Prom: Part 2

This post is part 2 of a 2 part post on prom. Go here for part 1.
90% of getting ready for prom is for the pictures. Once you actually get to the prom, it turns out that its a dark, sweaty room where everyone looks less good within 15 minutes of dancing.
I met my date, a close friend, at his house two hours before the prom start time. We live in a small town, on the same street, in a semi-urban setting. My house doesn't have a yard. His does, so we decided to do our first round of pictures there. My parents, my grandparents, and his mom were there. We did all of the standard prom poses with appropriate teenage awkwardness. We also took some great photos near an open trash can (which are still on his camera), which will probably turn out to be my favorite from the evening, due to their antiestablishment nature. You can save all of your jokes about ginger prom dates, we have heard them all. No, we did not go tanning before prom.
After an hour of picture taking at his house we headed to meet a large group of our friends at Fonthill, a whimsical poured-in-place concrete castle designed by local celebrity Henry Chapman Mercer. There, we had hors d'oeuvres, schmoozed, and complimented each other on how not ugly we all looked. Our parents, collectively, took 800 to 100,000 photos.
Me and Sir Date
Dominique's Boyfriend, Dominique, Me, Sir Mister Date Esq. PhD
A Mass Quantity of My Friends, Airborne
Erinn and her date drove me and my date to prom in her sleek 2000 Jetta. Prom was at a surprisingly nice country club. When we arrived, everyone was herded up a grand staircase to walk past security so that drunk kids could be weeded out and their lives could be subsequently ruined. Luckily, nobody at the prom got busted. This walk was a great opportunity to outfit snark. My date, though not a huge fan of fashion, is a huge fan of film and the Oscars, and he used this opportunity to do some red-carpet style fashion critique. Lots of girls wore looks straight out of Seventeen Prom. Tans were orange, makeup was overdone, dresses were skimpy, and boobs were overly prominent. The majority of people looked great though.
We were required to spend the first hour of prom eating. The menu included a salad, which I didn't touch, sourdough bread, and stuffed shells or lemon chicken. Nobody seemed excited to eat this food. Instead, there was a lot of polite, adult socializing, which was maybe the strangest part of the whole night. After, we were all let into the ballroom and we danced. The DJ wasn't very good, and played mostly oldies. Nothing made me feel closer to my peers than grinding to ABC by the Jackson 5. My date, who doesn't usually dance, danced with me the entire time, and even liked it. The room was a sauna of adolescent awkwardness, and we were very sweaty by the end of the evening. My hair eventually retreated to its natural fur-like texture and triangular shape. I didn't really care though, because I was having a great time.
Afterward, we headed to a party at Dominique's boyfriend's house, where we swam, talked, and stayed up until 5 am. In the morning, we had pancakes. As far as I know, most other social groups did similar things. I am not aware of anyone who died or got arrested. Maybe someone got pregnant, but we won't know for a few weeks. I'll let you know!
When I got home the next morning I was really excited to shower. Looking nice is fun, but after two days of makeup, sweating, and swimming I felt absolutely disgusting. I got home and showered. I pulled off my fake eyelashes, and some of my real eyelashes too. I put on sweatpants. It felt great to feel ugly.
In short, prom was awesome, but one prom per lifetime is probably enough for me. If you are younger than me and you are reading this, I definitely recommend that you go to your prom, but just keep it in perspective.
This post is part 2 of a 2 part post on prom. Go here for part 1.

37 comments:

  1. Woah! We ate more than just pancakes! Come on. Give me a little more credit than that.

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  2. You looked so pretty- I love your dress. Very nice. Lots of girls like to have their boobs in your face, but I think that keeping them reigned in is much classier (and attractive).

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  3. Maybe someone got pregnant, but we won't know for a few weeks.

    ^Win.

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  4. gorgeous dress, you look lovely! glad you had a nice time, enjoyed reading your commentary!

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  5. I'm loving this - I teach seniors, and while some of them are really great kids, I've never seen this level of self-awareness from them. I'm really glad you were able to have a great time at your prom while still keeping it "in perspective" as you said. It's great that you can objectively critique stuff without being overly critical or condescending about teens these days.

    Plus you did look super-pretty!

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  6. you're a fantastic writer. i'm glad you're getting some exposure from this 'experiment.'

    also, it'd be interesting to hear you riff on every month's issue, not just one.

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  7. Your date is SO adorable. (as are you...but I know exactly what you mean by how good it feels to look ugly after wearing a fancy getup.)

    Is your experiment over now that prom has ended? I had a great time reading all of your graphs and commentary.

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  8. Amazing two articles!

    My mother and I read all of your posts and think they are great! Perfect amounts of humor with great thinking attached.

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  9. You look gorgeous, glad you had a lovely time.

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  10. I honestly think all school dances are a waste of money and time. It's not like you can put them on your college applications. There are a lot more fun things to do with your friends, that are also cheaper, than going to a dance. I am so glad I will never have to hear about them in my school.

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  11. You looked very pretty. I wish I could show you firsthand the glory that is prom in my country. I attended what you would consider a "prep" school, all girls, which means $5,000 dollar dresses, the most expensive ballroom of the finest hotel in the area, and some sort of live band. Prom is held after graduation, also, so no one really cares about who's drunk or not. And so you end up with girls putting their drinks (and those of a zillion of their "friends") in their date's tab at the bar, and lots of people really drunk (read: taking the band's microphones and instruments hostage) before the afterparty even starts. The after party is usually held at a club that's specially closed for that night. It's so much fun.

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  12. what country do you live in?

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  13. a) You look gorgeous. In the picture on the right. Pretty in the prom picture, but gorgeous in the real picture.
    b) 13 years ago, my prom dress cost $16 (it was vintage), I had a bad very short haircut that I didn't even realize I had to do anything with until 5 minutes before my date showed up, & makeup was minimal because I had already experienced too-much-makeup trauma at a formal dance a year earlier.
    Nonetheless, your description of what pron was like for you sounds exactly like my own - and your comment on the strangeness of adult conversation brought it back for me in a flash. Thanks :)

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  14. I love how pretty much everyone commented on her looks more than what she said...

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  15. Jamie's mom mom......I took some of the pictures & I can tell you her "inner" beauty shines inside & out!! Truly beautiful!

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  16. maybe Seventeen is right, it is how you look that matters

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  17. Is that a UChicago tshirt? if so hollaa. Got linked here from jezzy, cool blog. If you are a rising first year at U of C, lemme just say, Welcome.

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  18. I popped over here from Jezebel and read the entire blog (and then subscribed). I love what you're doing and the insight you put into your writing. I'm also thinking back to when I was in high school and I doubt I would have reached the intelligent conclusions you do!

    Also, your prom dress is lovely! And it's so nice to see someone who didn't make prom into the soap opera it often is.

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  19. Yes! I am a rising first year at UChicago! Can't wait!

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  20. I'm so enjoying your experiment and your writing. And loving the photos.

    Your prom pics are a delight. I think you're beautiful and I wish I had your hair!

    (And no, this is not your mother.)

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  21. Speaking of possible pregnancies, I remember what was special about my prom!

    My friends and I bought brown paper bags with about 200 total condoms and left them in the bathroom. They were confiscated. *sigh*

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  22. Wow great site! I'm loving your insights.

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  23. Just heard about your blog this morning on BoingBoing.. So sorry I'm coming into this late! I just backtracked and read all of your posts AND all of the comments

    LOVE your writing, it's hysterical, especially the comment about the McDonald's breakfast being perfect if the two were stoners.. Almost fell over laughing.. Also very insightful and thought-provoking stuff :) Keep up the great work!

    PS.. Myself and the women in my family have the same kind of hair as you, keep wearing it with pride, curly-haired girls have all the fun :)

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  24. "It felt great to feel ugly."

    LOL. Well, you're certainly not ugly, but I know what you mean!!

    Anyway, I love your blog, you are a great writer! Can't wait to read more. I hope after the experiment ends, you'll still be blogging witty posts somewhere on the internets ...

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  25. I just have to comment on Fonthill. My boyfriend is from Doylestown and the first time I went up for a visit (we go to school in DC) he took me to Fonthill and I thought it was the most bizarre place ever. I also thought it was the ugliest place ever. But seeing it in your prom pictures is making me rethink my initial assessment. I still think it's bizarre but I think your pictures there are awesome and I wish I had had such a unique place to take pictures before my prom!

    Love your blog and expect to see big things from you in the future!

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  26. Ah.... Feeling ugly after prom sure is amazing. I know the exact feeling :)

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  27. you look lovely!
    Sad, we don't have prom in the UK >.<

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  28. You looked gorgeous dressed up for prom! I actually like your normal (non-Seventeen) style anyway, but it is lovely to see you in a ballgown. And your date is so cute!

    I am from Surrey, UK and we had a Summer Ball for university, which meant that the North and South Quads of the main building (which is modelled on the Chateau de Chambord) were kitted out for the occasion. It was awesome :)

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  29. You looked gorgeous!! Love the article-and yes, tell us if anyone got preg!! xD And I know the exact feeling. Sounds like a very good time!

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  30. Heard about you on NPR this morning and I am loving your writing. I raised my kids in the 80's and am raising a granddaughter now, so I was very interested in what you had to say about being the first internet generation. It is a hard and wonderful thing to be an insightful teenager. I am looking forward to hearing lots more from you!
    PS My family rocks the curls for 3 generations. The curlygirl website has lots of curl affirming info....

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  31. Lol my prom was full of "grind lines": about 10-15 people in a line grinding each other. It was pretty gross.

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  32. hello i just want to tell you i like your "after" shot up there much more than your "before" shot. Freshly-showered relaxed you is a pretty gorgeous thing x

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  33. You looked so beautiful, and you looked modest too! When I go to my senior prom, I hope I look as pretty as you!

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  34. Can I just start off by saying you looked near perfection at your prom?
    Secondly, here down under we undergo a whopping two "formals", one at age 16 (after which we may leave school) and a second at the ripe, responsible, and ready age of 18. I was laughing throughout your whole pre-to-post prom recount due how similar it was to mine. From arguments about tables, to not going to school/leaving early, expensive and time-consuming beauty preparations all simply for the photo hour or two before prom. Upon entry into the building, after climbing the staircase and taking photos with those you did not invite to your "pre's", and in those next 15 minutes everyone does indeed begin to look less good. Hair deflates, heels may have come off and dresses acquired crinkliness from sitting down.

    " The DJ wasn't very good, and played mostly oldies. Nothing made me feel closer to my peers than grinding to ABC by the Jackson 5" - or might I add, lamely collectively bending down in "get low".

    I love your blog and your writing and your incredible intelligence, and am so happy I stumbled upon it (While looking up things about the TV show Daria..)

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  35. I am 44 and somehow ran across your blog looking for content that I would like to see my daughter exposed to when she is older. I was glad to find that there is content out there and so well-written and funny and smart. Congratulations to you on all your hard work. I too want my daughter to be empowered, and not be trained to consume. I also want her to feel empowered enough that she never feels the need to criticize herself or anyone else based on their looks or the choices someone makes to feel beautiful. Granted, spray-tanning and putting on makeup may not be our choice, but it doesn't give us the right to degrade those who do choose. What I want for everyone of every age is to feel the freedom to make choices that hurt no one without the fear that someone is going to degrade them for it. I would posit that you are more enlightened than the majority of your peers, but judging them for their fashion/beauty choices in a negative way doesn't help anyone. It just makes you sound like one of the Mean Girls.

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  36. I am 44 and somehow ran across your blog looking for content that I would like to see my daughter exposed to when she is older. I was glad to find that there is content out there and so well-written and funny and smart. Congratulations to you on all your hard work. I too want my daughter to be empowered, and not be trained to consume. I also want her to feel empowered enough that she never feels the need to criticize herself or anyone else based on their looks or the choices someone makes to feel beautiful. Granted, spray-tanning and putting on makeup may not be our choice, but it doesn't give us the right to degrade those who do choose. What I want for everyone of every age is to feel the freedom to make choices that hurt no one without the fear that someone is going to degrade them for it. I would posit that you are more enlightened than the majority of your peers, but judging them for their fashion/beauty choices in a negative way doesn't help anyone. It just makes you sound like one of the Mean Girls.

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  37. I remember reading this blog a couple of years ago and loving it. I had no intentions of going to my senior prom, mostly for financial reasons, but my friends we're lovely enough to split the cost of my prom ticket -$75- among themselves as a birthday gift (prom is actually the day of my birthday, and honestly I didn't have any more exciting plans for the day). Now I'm actually looking forward to it, despite my complete inability to dance, and I decided to visit your blog again, kind of as a guide to my own prom. Hopefully I'll be able to look as classy as you did and have as much fun!

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