The moment that grade twelves wait for all year (or maybe that's just me?) has come and passed. Prom was
sweet-bitter; bittersweet, but in reverse, and no less lovely for it. Here's
how it all went down...(Warning: long post ahead. But at least I look gorgeous
in the photos, so you have plenty of eye candy.)
2:00: wake
up with last minute terrors: what if no one shows up? What if everyone else
looks much better in their dress than I do?
3:30:
convince self that fears are groundless and go back to sleep.
5:30: wake
up. Read Georgette Heyer novel and do yoga in attempt to calm self down. This
will be basically your entire day, because it doesn't quite work. (Aka: you are
so stressed that you're not even hungry. This has never happened to you before,
but you appreciate not needing to eat every fifteen minutes.)
2:00: buy
Caramel Ribbon Crunch Frappuchino, because sugar + caffeine= good in every
situation. (Especially when you've already been awake for almost 12 hours...)
2:30: arrive
at friend's home to start getting ready.
3:30:
actually start getting ready. This includes:
-redoing
hair 17 times because the style that seemed so simple the first 10 times you
practiced has suddenly acquired the complexity of open heart surgery
-acquiring
a taste for country music
-texting
other friends frantically
-worrying
that makeup is too heavy and that you look clownlike
5:45:
supposed time of arrival at school.
6:10:
actual time of arrival at school. (Oops.) Wander around admiring everyone's
dresses.
6:20: get
photo taken by professional photographer and feel like model.
(too. much. glamour.)
6:30: be
forced to put on cap and gown. Realise that the cap makes you look like you're
bald, and that you now have to go up on stage wearing it in front of everyone
there. (Of course this is also when your date will walk in and you will make a
gorgeous first impression.)
6:40:
nearly pass out or vomit from stress.
7:00:
ceremony actually starts. Listen to long and boring speeches by people you
don't even know.
8:00:
things are perking up- you've received plenty of scholarships! (The advantages
of a) being a nerd and b) going to a small school.)
8:30:
realise that if you don't get out of the cap and gown soon you're going to die
of excessive sweating before the fun part even starts.
9:00:
ceremony finally ends. Sprint to take off your gown, then take lots and lots of photos with friends. They will all be
attractive (even if you are as red as a tomato in many of them. And not just your dress. Sigh) despite the awkward school background.
(extra cupcakeness!)
(even though I'm not actually looking, I had to include this to a) show off my eye makeup and b) show off my date... aren't we cute?)
9:10:
admire corsage...
...bought by Bond Girl friends. (The ladies of mystery, dressed all in black.)
(this is honestly my favourite photo of the night. I have no idea why)
9:20:
wander around (again) and try to figure out what's going on. (This is your life
in a sentence.)
9:30: find
the dance floor. Immediately start dancing like a maniac with friends... even
if you're the only ones there. (Sad story.)
(we definitely had the most fun)
9:45:
slowdance with date. Dragons. (Like butterflies, but fire-breathing.)
9:50:
continue dancing with friends. Forget to say goodbye to all your classmates as
they begin to depart for the after-party. (...Whoops.)
10:20:
slowdance last song with Kori. Be pleased you are not slowdancing with date
because the two of you are so sweaty that it produces a bit of a Velcro
attachment effect.
10:30:
watch date leave. Realise that, yes, this is all actually happening, and that
you won't see many of these people again, and start crying.
10:40:
after a few final photos with friends, depart for McDonald's.
11:00: have
mood slightly boosted by ice cream and listening in your friends' two separate
conversations.
(McDonald's- where all the cool kids go on a Friday night.)
11:40:
leave McDonald's and drive friend home.
12:20:
arrive at after-party.
12:22: get
bored of after-party. Realise that being one of the only sober people is No Fun
but have no desire to get drunk.
12:40:
leave after-party with other sober friend.
1:20:
arrive home. Jump on trampoline in effort to boost mood.
1:30:
collapse on kitchen floor and cry so hard even your cat won't come near you.
2:00: go to
bed, still teary but slightly more able to breathe.
...and
there you have it: my graduation. Minus the hysterical sobbing (and the
never-ending speeches), I enjoyed myself. (And if you really read every word of
this, major brownie points to you- not quite enough yet for a home-baked pan,
but close.)
