Prom

 Our mother was not a helicopter mom. She cared about each of us separately and lovingly. One thing that was important to her is our appearance, it rubbed off on my sisters and brothers but I never received that gene. From head to toe we could not leave the house unless we were perfect in her eyes.

When one of my younger sisters was a sophomore in High School she was asked to prom by the president of the senior class. Who could believe it? He was tall, handsome, charming, charismatic, smart, a son of a prominent doctor, admired by girls and boys alike. Why would he ask her? She was smart, stunning, funny, beautiful, caring, loving, fun, happy, did I say beautiful! He had his eye on her since he was a junior  this was his time to make a move on her. Absolutely everyone was stunned. She was naive, kept with her posse, never turning around to see him following her through the halls. Prom night came they entered the hall with everyone staring at her. The prom attendees had seen him for 4 years and were just getting to know her. They danced every dance in front of the orchestra. In those days parents were allowed to attend these events. Nan and his mother went together to spy on the couple in love. They were in the balcony of the hall, all of a sudden, her bundle of curls flew off her head and landed on the floor. He scooped it up like a gentleman and plopped it back on her head. Nan watched the whole thing and started to laugh. Nan rushed downstairs and met my sister in the ladies room. Nan could not stop laughing, tears were rolling down her cheeks. My sister found a couple of bobby pins and secured it to her pony tail. Back to the dance floor with Nan standing in the hallway still laughing. It is still vivid 50 years later.

It made me mad I was one of the tallest girls in my high school class. I towered over 80% of the guys there were a few taller like the basketball team. I was skinny, lanky, straight black hair, had no idea how to wear makeup, plus I was very plain. Nan was so beautiful she never wore make up. Nan curled my hair in old socks. Yes old socks that did not match were our rollers. You could sleep on them and wear them to school the next day. We did not have a junior prom because our class of rebels paid for our lunch in pennies to let the administrators we did not like the cafeteria food. So the senior prom came around and I did not have a date and I did not care. Nan did care about the most important day in my life, her opinion. No one asked me. Nan insisted I go so she asked my brother's best friend and he said he would escort me. Nan picked out my dress, she knew what would look good on me. He showed up, took me to the prom, he danced with everyone but me. He drove me home and we are still friends today.

When I was eighteen I invited a boy over to dinner. Nan wanted to meet him because I was still in high school. This was after the prom event. Nan bought my clothes, I bought a few things with my babysitting money. Right after dinner we were leaving the dinner table and Nan noticed a loose thread just below my arm by the dart on the left side of the dress. It was the first time I wore the dress. She pulled the thread and the top part of the dress dropped to my knees and my bra was staring him in the face. The entire dining room, sisters and brothers all laughed. Nan laughed too. I had two sleeves but no top of my dress. He laughed too. Of course, I cried. No I never saw him again. 

Nan was the fussy one!