Dear Friends,
I took photos at my brother Jamison’s prom two weekends ago, and it brought back memories of my own high school time, though my own experiences were much different than his. As it turns out, Jamison has blown us all away with his popularity, rivaling Nick as the most popular St. Clair in school. Jamie was for years the child in our family that got on everyone’s nerves, but he has blossomed into one awesome boy. In fact, our cousins have voted him, “Most Improved St. Clair.”
Jamie’s prom seemed right out of a teen movie. The girls were all stunning and physically mature, the boys cool and aloof. I loved being a figurative fly on the wall, though admittedly I felt just like the nerd I was in high school.
I wouldn’t know about my senior prom because I never attended. It is sort of a sad story, or it was at the time. Originally, my parents scheduled us to leave for our family vacation to Florida the day of prom. My mom felt terrible, so she arranged for my ticket to be moved to the next day. However, I never got asked to prom, so instead, my family left to Florida that Saturday while I stayed home, worked, then drove myself to the airport the next morning.
It sounds pathetic, but that was the start of my realization that I can bravely do things alone and be just fine. In fact, I remember that night alone being a good one. I got food to-go and watched a movie in my parents’ bed.
What were your proms like? Prom seems like such a big deal in high school, and now looking back, I can hardly remember. But taking photos that night, I could understand and appreciate the excitement and the magic of it all. The magic of growing up.
Your nerdy friend,
