> Frankly, I just don't get it. Apparently, convention has it that I'm *supposed* to just drop a few hundred dollars to go to a dance. And people are surprised that I refuse.
>
> "But it's your Senior Prom!"
> "Yeah? And?"
> "Well, you *have* to go! It's your senior year! Everybody goes to their Senior Prom!"
> "Yeah? And?"

The school ball tradition in NZ doesn't seem to be as chronically "THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT EVENING OF YOUR LIFE" as the U.S. prom, but I still recognise that feeling. I knew I wasn't going to get a date, I knew I wouldn't particularly enjoy it, but I went anyway because for some reason it was inconceivable that anybody *wouldn't* go.

The annoying thing, for me, is that if it had been an old-fashioned ball, I would have loved to go. I read too many nineteenth-century novels. Balls ought to involve extremely elaborate lacy poofy dresses with huge skirts and elbow length gloves. People ought to waltz, not hop awkwardly from foot to foot while thrashing their arms around jammed up against 200 other people. I think it also goes without saying that there should not be strobe lights.

Brunnen-"the age of romance isn't dead, it's just moved away and left no forwarding address"G