Prom Night 2013

Prom Night 2013

Samantha went to her first prom on Saturday.  She went with Christian, her boyfriend and the captain of the men's team of the Triangle Rowing Club. 

For the past five weeks we have all been subject to the daily drama of waiting to be asked, being asked, finding a dress, making plans, remaking plans, getting ready, and finally going to the prom.

Samantha looked beautiful.  Always looking older than her actual age, Sam morphed from a 15 1/2 year old girl to a stunning young woman.  Her dress was just right and her jewelry and hair were great.  They looked like they were about to have the time of their lives - with all of their lives ahead of them - they were a cute couple.

Prom is different than when I went to my senior prom in 1985.  Now you have to go to dinner separate from the actual dance.  After the prom is another party.  Lots of moving pieces driving from one place to another and I let Christian drive her.  Despite my stodginess, I said Yes (or at least negotiated to Yes) more than Sam thought I would.

To her credit Sam did a great job of following the rules we set together by making the right choices, meeting her curfew, and being responsible.  I did warn her date that I'd be up waiting - cleaning my guns - until he brought my daughter home safe and sound.  Whether or not he truly believed it is irrelevant. 

To my credit I didn't check on her via text every five minutes and held my ground when she tried to push her curfew.  

While we spent most of the day running Sam from appointment to appointment to get ready we all piled in the car in the later afternoon to go see her in her final glory.  That bit of craziness; loading the kids, getting to North Raleigh, meeting strangers, taking pictures took away from the reality of watching Sam take another stride in being her own person.  And while those strides are getting longer in distance and closer in interval - this one was stunning. 

Senior Prom 1985