Prom 2016: Princess TQ Parties

Okay, I have to admit right now, I'm done. My brain is fried, I barely got dressed this morning,  and I can't. Anything. Thank God, today is Mother's Day, maybe I won't have to do much. The end of a really hard week was crowned with Teen Queen's last Prom.

The venue was gorgeous, out in the country with beautiful backdrops, and true to Texas, it was held in a metal barn and featured a Mexican food buffet. I'm not sure who thought serving refried beans to a bunch of teenage boys in tuxes was a good idea, but it was certainly amusing. So on the way to just north of Amarillo, on small two-lane roads, turn right, turn left, turn right, turn left, you've arrived, TQ kept asking, "Mom, what are you doing? You're lost." Yeah, sweetie, I'm afraid I am, oh look! we're here!"

As we're standing there watching her classmates arrive and line up to walk through the decorated arches for pictures before the dinner, TQ tells them, "You look beautiful! And you look distinguished!" And that broke the ice. TQ being almost 21, these seniors are 3 years younger, but they've grown up with the girls, so they know. And they have always been very accepting and supportive of the Cute Chicks. One of the reasons why we love living here. Just an aside, the Best Dressed goes to the young man in full formal kilt, sorry I didn't get his name or a pic. So the partiers file through for pictures, one of the young men, the vice president of the senior class, comes trotting back and offers his arm to TQ, "May I escort you?" "Yes, thank you. You look very nice." "So do you!" And that was the first lump in my throat.

Then dinner, she was invited to sit with a group of Seniors, three couples. You know how you hear about snotty girls, mean girls? These weren't those. Every girl made an effort to to talk to Sarah, compliment her dress, and make sure she was having fun. After dinner, more pictures while the tables and chairs were cleared for dancing, and as soon as TQ heard "dance" she was ready. She kept asking when? and the girls, excuse me, young ladies gathered around and said, "We're going to have a girls' dance first, c'mon!" They danced, they whirled, they jumped and "whooed!", and TQ's tiara stayed put if a little canted. Making her feel comfortable, they followed her moves, they just celebrated with abandon. Second throat lump.

Notice the bare feet, by this time, those who weren't in sneakers were barefoot. God bless country girls. Two hours flew by, dancing, drinking lemonade, and hitting the dessert bar. Okay, mostly I hit the dessert bar, I needed the sugar rush. As the sun went down and we got closer to her bedtime, I noticed she was starting to slow down, and I asked her if she was ready to leave. "No mom, but I'd better get home before midnight." Always my little Cinderella. So with final calls goodbye and hugs from her posse, Princess TQ headed for the momcoach and rode off in the moonlight, her tiara sparkling like Texas stars caught in her curls.