THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, May 24, 1996 TAG: 9605240056
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JAMIE CAROTT, SPECIAL TO THE DAILY BREAK
LENGTH: 56 lines
WHEN YOU HEAR the word ``prom,'' what comes to mind? A perfectly flawless evening with the one you love?
Well, for some the prom may be just that - a limo, romantic dinner and the perfect date. For others this once-in-a-lifetime event turns out to be nothing but a disaster. The limo never comes, dinner reservations were never made and your date turns out to be the biggest jerk.
When I was a freshman at Salem Junior High, Jason (my boyfriend at the time) vowed we would be each other's prom date. He eventually moved to Maryland, but we kept in touch and kept our vow. His prom was first so I was to attend Magruder High School's Junior-Senior Prom in Rockville, Md., on May 19, 1995.
At the time, I was dating a guy named Mike and Jason had a girlfriend (also named Jamie), but like he said before, ``No matter what, we are each other's prom date!''
His parents invited me to stay at his house for a long weekend. All day Friday, Jason was at school while I hung out with his sister who was in college. About two hours before our prom date was to start, I started getting ready. Where was Jason?
He arrived home from school with 15 minutes to spare, wearing a pair of old, grass-stained maroon Converse and a wallet chain that dangled to his knee. He quickly put on a rented tux but kept on his Converse.
``You're wearing a black dress, it'll match,'' he said.
In order for us to make it to his friend's house for pictures, he drove about 70 mph in a cherry red Mazda RX7. Our original plan was to go to dinner before the prom, but my date forgot to make dinner reservations, so we ordered Chinese food and returned to his house to eat.
When we finally entered the dance, I lost sight of Jason only to catch a glimpse of him slopping all over his 4-foot girlfriend.
After this, there was no way I was going to take Jason to my prom. I could now take my boyfriend, Mike. That is, until I returned home and saw him at the Strawberry Festival with another girl.
Boy, by this time I had written off two jerks in a span of two weeks.
With less than a month until my Senior Prom at Salem High School, I was in desperate need of a date and feeling like I wanted the whole thing to be over. And then I was set up with Steve, a friend whom I had known since the 8th-grade.
Finally, things were beginning to look better. I bought my dress. I made dinner reservations at Tradewinds for 6 p.m. for Sophie and Brandon, Erin and Dave, and Steve and I.
I must say that I enjoyed my prom dispite the rocky beginning. Grand Affairs, where the event took place, was decorated beautifully in red, black and silver, and the music was great.
When thinking about the word ``prom,'' maybe it's better to take it lightly. It's going to be a memory no matter what happens and if you stress out over it, you might find you've set yourself up for a bad one.
Going with a friend is not such a bad idea. You're able to mingle and spend time with everyone before you graduate and go your separate ways. by CNB