A "Way Back" Machine Memory

Today it was a really windy cooler day, but bright and sunny. We decided to wash the truck, the van and the car in the driveway instead of driving them to the car wash. While we were out there, car after car kept parking at the curb and people kept going into the neighbor's house across the street. JL thought it must be some kind of party, but nobody was outside on the deck, around their pool, or in the yard. I thought about it for a second and said, "Prom."
Sure enough, before we were finished, two kids came out surrounded by a small group of picture snappers. She had a long shimmering royal blue dress on and the requisite "up do" hairstyle. He had on a black tux with a blue tie and cumber bun that matched the dress.
It sort of made me think about my own prom. I didn't have a blast like people seem to think it should be. I thought it was stressful and really would have rather been just cruising or something. In fact, the next weekend after prom, there was a huge tailgate party down at a place on the riverbank that was a notorious spot for mudding, camping, or just hanging out. WAY more fun. If I had a "do-over", I'd have probably chosen to skip the prom completely and ditch the dress for jeans and head to the river. It never mattered when you went, you always saw someone you knew and you rarely ever rode in the same truck twice when the games began. Then after all the engines revved and the mud was slung, the trucks would be pulled into the shallow bank and everybody would lend a hand washing them off and pulling weeds out of the wheel wells. Usually, huge water fights would ensue and someone would inevitably lose their keys in the river.
I don't know if the neighbor kid will have a good time at her prom or not. Maybe that's her thing, and if so I hope she does. It just wasn't mine.