I have been an awful owner to my 1968 Cadillac DeVille convertible.It had occupied space in a garage for over two years, unattended to, not even started. As rambunctious as that old girl is, she took a lot of agitation to get started. But, that’s a side story. As I slipped behind the wheel to get her started a couple of weeks ago, a reminder of a wonderful evening dangled from the rear-view mirror.

 

There it hung, as it has for about 25 years, was a pink garter from a delightful blonde who shared the evening with me at a “grown-up” prom at the River Inn party room one summer night back in the ‘80’s.

 

Our 40’s bunch - about 30 of us - reached back into the past, dressed up in tuxes, the ladies in their finest party dresses, and we held prom.

 

Complete with a grand march, names announced, smiles everywhere.

 

A band played, dinner was enjoyed, then followed the dance to conclude the evening’s festivities.

 

I have always enjoyed our coverage of Becker and Big Lake proms. The young ladies, having traded raggedy jeans and flip-flops for their favorite colors. Hair gussied up as if it may have taken a half-day to put it all in place.

 

Their escorts, no longer boys - but men, and acting the role.

 

A coming out, of sorts, in the various stages of life these young people will experience.

 

What a wonderful occasion, these proms.

 

Hard on the pocketbook - but providing the memories to enjoy for a lifetime.

 

And some of the kids do this two or three times? Fulfilled social merchants, I’d say.

 

Okay, so why was the 1980’s prom so memorable for me?

 

I was one of society’s real late bloomers, I admit. I liked a lot of girls back at Foley High School.

 

But when it came to asking them out on a date, I recorded straight “F’s”.

 

There was Diane, the real love of my life, who I couldn’t get close to because she had a steady boyfriend.

 

I could have asked Rosalie, who smiled a lot at me. But I didn’t.

 

Then there was Bonnie, our high school Homecoming queen from the fall prior.

 

Bonnie didn’t go with any guy in particular. She was just nice - and popular - and I guessed she would be fending off the date requests.

 

She accepted  a request for the evening at the last minute because it was the only one she received.

 

And I thought to myself - you slowpoke. 

 

Bonnie attended the prom that spring with our class nerd. 

 

But I assume she made the best of it - and she was ravishingly beautiful - I’m sure.

 

Turns out, I was the nerd.

 

The most important rule in salesmanship is you’ve gotta ask for the business.

 

The most important rule in early life dating, you’ve gotta ask.

 

I hope everyone enjoyed their evening at Becker High School.