Another high school prom is in the books, and son No. 2 came through with flying colors, or at least with high shine, given his date’s glittery dress and his matching gold vest and tie.
A lot of planning and effort goes into a high school prom, and we’re grateful to the volunteers and local sponsors who help with the festivities.
And, while it’s fun to see the students in all their prom finery, I can’t be the only one who thinks prom feels like a wedding, given the similar details involved.
There are dresses, shoes, hairdos, makeup, manicures, pedicures, flowers, tuxedos, bowties, fittings, reservations, second fittings, spit-shined vehicles, decorations, lighting, a march down an aisle, smiles for cameras, a banquet, music, a dance, a party, an after-party, buffet, gifts and — for some who are still standing — 4:30 a.m. breakfast.
Whew.
Followed by dozens of Facebook posts of Ken-and-Barbie couples dolled up beyond recognition. (I hardly recognized my own son in his monkey suit.)
And it’s all good.
But it’s a lot.
Sometimes it’s more than a kid wants to bother with, which is why some kids take a pass, or maybe just take in the after-prom party. (Which is what I would have done if after-prom had been a thing in my youth).
Or maybe some would rather save that kind of celebrating for a really special occasion — like a wedding.
Either way, anyone who survives prom can probably survive wedding planning. Or, at least they could consider it practice of sorts.
Kind of like mopeds are practice for driver’s licenses, puppies are practice for parenting, renting is practice for owning, retirement is practice for rocking chairs, and so on through the circle of life.
I’m not sure what life stage I’m practicing for now, but I still feel like a rookie, whatever it is.
Of course, not everyone has the luxury of practice. Some find themselves hurled headlong into parenting, then puppies and then maybe weddings — or a ceremony that results in legal marriage.
And sometimes, despite all our practicing, we don’t achieve the next step, or we get there and later fall two steps back … through divorce, loss of a job or loss of a loved one.
But in the end, if we live long enough, we all find our way to the same place, presumably on a path God planned for us, orderly or not.
Let’s just pray our prom kids keep their feet on the ground and their faith in a higher power, because life isn’t getting easier for new generations finding their paths in the world.