Tri-County News

Memorable Prom nights – then and now


When I was in ninth grade I was chosen to be a punch girl at the prom along with my friends Carolyn Scheffler, Susan Skrien and Marilyn Maw. We each bought dresses and did our hair for the event. My dress was a baby blue knee length with cap sleeves. The gym
was decorated with lots of streamers, balloons and a live band for the dance. We punch girls served beverages and cake. It was our job to protect the punch bowl from spiking … not an easy feat in 1979! We had so much fun. It was a night I will always remember and the start of event organizing for me. I wanted to be on the prom committee every year.

For my 10th grade school dance my mom made me a fun two-piece dress with spaghetti straps. It buttoned up the back like a corset. Black with little flowers. My date gave me a wrist corsage. I got ready at LeAnn Freeberg’s because she lived in town and her mom Dee loved to help us with our hair and make-up in between her sips of TAB. Several of us had a sleep over there after the dance. The song “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers Anymore” was a duet with Barbara Streisand and Neil Diamond. Dee played her “Barbara” album in the living room and LeeAnn played her “Neil” in the bedroom. We had stereo music throughout the house.

My junior prom equally memorable. My mom sewed my junior prom dress too. It was cream colored with a matching bolero jacket. At that prom we had a photo stage with a giant rattan chair. The girls would sit in the chair with their dates standing proudly beside them. You couldn’t get more 80s than that! My date didn’t drive so my mom had me ride to town with Mr. Laine. I don’t remember if he was a janitor at the school or what, but he happened to be driving to town at that time so, awkward as it was, I loaded up my dress and took the 36-mile ride to the dance. At least it wasn’t a pumpkin chariot.

Senior prom was store-bought dress. It was a Gunne Saxs from The Market in Grand Marais. It was beautiful white lace with a white slip underneath. I felt like a princess in that dress. (I found one like it in Ebay, now Vintage, sigh) We had dinner at the Birch Terrace in town and then went to the dance. I remember being so sad because it would be my last prom. At that time, I never dreamed of the prom nights of the future with my daughter Zoe and sons Jack and Ben. Shopping for dresses and tuxedos. Shoes and ties. I have lived vicariously through them for the past several years. That is until last night… my last prom ever …. my son Ben and his friend Peyton who decided to recreate a scene from “Dumb and Dumber”. It was a perfect ending to many memorable prom nights. With humor and friendship, I am reminded how awesome our lives are here in small town Minnesota! To those of you that were there, thank you for the laughs. To those who missed it, just watch the movie. They nailed it. Proud mama here! Peace, Sandy

“Looking at my own prom photograph reminds me of how significant that moment was – and how fleeting life is.” ~ Mary Ellen Mark

Try these awesome Prom Punch Recipes

Luscious Orange Fizz

1/2-gallon orange sherbet

1 (6 ounce) can frozen orange juice concentrate

1 (2 liter) bottle ginger ale

Place sherbet and frozen orange juice concentrate in a punch bowl. Allow to thaw for 10 to 15 minutes. Stir in ginger ale.

Lovely Strawberry Lime Punch

1/2-gallon strawberry sherbet

2 (64 fluid ounce) bottles fruit punch

1 (2 liter) bottle lemon-lime flavored carbonated beverage, chilled

Place sherbet in a punch bowl. Pour in fruit punch and lemon-lime soda.

Cool as a Cucumber Punch

3 quarts water

3 quarts ice cubes

1 (.14 ounce) package sugar free instant lemonade powder

1 (12 fluid ounce) can white grape juice concentrate

1 lemon, sliced

1/2 medium cucumber, thinly sliced

In a punch bowl, stir together the water, ice, lemonade powder and grape juice concentrate. Float slices of lemon and cucumber on top.

 

 

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