Old School Memories

Prom Time
It's prom season here, with tuxes, limos, flowers, etc.  Of course, now it's all recorded on FB and Instagram.

My prom was 25 years ago, or so, in Houston. I wore a tea-length gown with cream lace overlaid on light pink fabric (satin?), which is practically nun-like compared to today's red-carpet gowns.  But I loved that dress, purchasing it in the fall, when shopping for a homecoming dress.  I think I even had shoes dyed to match.

My date was a young man I'd known for four years, a Euro-pop loving, 80s-androgynous Vietnamese immmigrant who wore more eye shadow than I ever did.  We'd been in math club and all of our Honors classes together, but didn't quite date; I don't think we ever even kissed.  We went to the prom more as friends.  No surprise now, all things considered.  I wonder what ever happened to him.

Anyway, he was late picking me up, having to sneak away from his parents who did not approve of white girls (is this my type?), but we had a great evening: a fancy pre-party in the backyard of a classmate, dinner at Tony's which was tres-sophisticated for us suburban teens, and then the dance at the Houston Club, I think.  It poured rain like a monsoon most of the night but didn't dampen our spirits much.  There was a casino-themed post-prom lock-in party at the high school--they were so scared of us drinking and driving--and maybe even an after party at my house for breakfast early in the morning?  I can't rightly recall.  Did we watch a movie?  Then, some group of us all went to a state park together for a picnic the next day (prom was Saturday night) and then skipped school on Monday. Mainly, I remember my dress, taking pictures with my cat, Curiosity, the pink rosebud corsage my mom got me, the orchid corsage my date brought me, the rain . . . and that's about it.  Still, good times, though perhaps not nearly as vital as it all felt when I was eighteen.


Basketball Fun
I used to go to a lot of high school basketball games, namely because a good friend of mine played varsity.  Sometimes Pop would go; other times, I'd go out afterwards for ice cream with some of the team.  I learned enough about basketball rules to enjoy it, remembering both the rules and the fun when we went to a WNBA Connecticut Sun game with the Girl Scouts this weekend.  It was our first major league sport and our first women's team, which was fun.  Sis even got some of the players' autographs during the GS festival, while Bud played in a bouncy house.  And then we cheered and cheered during the game (well, Sis was bored by the third quarter, but happy enough when we won!), between explaining the rules, foul calls, and jargon.   This little boy behind us booed loudly when the other team, Atlanta Dream, shot free throws, loud bordering on crude with "Foul You!"  He was still young enough, maybe eight, to be intimidated--not that the adults in his group tried--so I finally turned around, shouting to him two aisles up, and said, "Hey kid, enough with the booing.  That's not being a good sport."  You could have knocked him over with a feather then, and each time afterwards when I glared at him.  It didn't mar the experience, though.  And I think we liked it--and also eating barbecue and wandering the casino (they play at Mohegan Sun)--that we'll go back.

Because, sometimes you can sorta go back again.

Wizard Basketball

That's right.  Not chess or Quidditch.  But Wizard Basketball.

Bud made it up yesterday.  Hogwarts students play basketball but use spells to get their shots and block others.  Spells like "reboundus."

Our team, of course, beat the Slytherins.

Nothin' But Net

Basketball has been the game of choice for the last few weeks, with Bud roaming from neighbor to neighbor to play with others' balls and baskets.  Neighbor Boy insists, "My house, my rules," which annoys Sis, who then won't play.  Bud has talked basketball with Pop, who played in high school and even went to the Dr. Pepper tournament, and with Mama, who played on a team that came in second in her league; even their current babysitter M is on her school team and will play ball on scholarship in college.  We all watched some NCAA on tv during lunch out.

On Sunday, after church, haircuts, and lunch, Bud wanted to play basketball.  Mama and I looked at each other and she made a turn to the stores.  We had been planning on buying a hoop anyway so Bud could play with Pop over spring break, and it was a gorgeous day.  So yesterday found us buying youth-sized balls (standard brown, purple, and primary!) and a stand-alone hoop for younger people (net from 5.5-7.5').

Mama erected the stand and backboard while Sis colored in chalk and rode her bike and Bud practiced dribbling.  Finally, we could  play (It.  Takes.  So.  Long.)  Mama and Bud took turns shooting and then Bud and I "played."  We were the Penguins against the Snakes and I kept up a running commentary on our games, as best as I could (it's been a long time since I've watched basketball).  "Swoosh," driving to the basket, rebound, lay ups, three-pointers, "nothin' but net."  He thought it was great.  They even went outside early to play before the bus arrived (and the bus arrived just before Neighbor Boy headed over to play.  Sigh).  

I like it because with the basket at about 6.5', I can slam dunk!