King of the Prom....Almost Thirty Years Later

Jimmy and I attended the 2010 Gay & Lesbian Prom here in Asheville, NC, a fund-raiser for BLuRP (Blue Ridge Pride-a fledgling organization co-chaired by my friend, Amy, that stages our town's yearly Pride gathering). It was a good cause with cocktails, conversations with friends, and both a live band and a DJ...not to mention the opportunity to rewrite history. Before going out, Jimmy and I were swapping prom horror stories from our colorful high school careers...unfortunately most of mine involved teen-aged drinking and inappropriate vomiting. So, we knew going into the event that we would have no problem topping the memories of our previous proms. It was a beautiful spring night in Asheville, and the event was held in a run-down factory converted into studio space by the French Broad River. A canopy of greenery led the way into the high-ceilinged space with beautiful hardwood floors. The theme (every proms gotta have one!) was "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil", and the room was awash in prom gowns and tuxedoes, often not on whom you might expect. We were both surprised to find that Amy had nominated us for Prom King and Queen, and by looking at the number of people we both knew in the middling crowd, it started to dawn on us that we might actually win this thing. Neither us was in that social stratosphere in high school, but now we found ourselves surrounded by fun friends reliving the prom amongst those who chose to live open lives like ourselves. It was quite exhilarating, helped by multiple trips to the cash bar (all proceeds to the cause :)) and some energetic dancing. Jimmy ran into someone he had dated over twenty years ago, leading him down his own cathartic walk down the roads of past lives. The night ended with my coronation as Prom King and a kiss from the transgendered woman who beat Jimmy for Prom Queen. We went home fairly early to rest up for the kids returning from visiting with the mother. Stopping by the all-night grocery store on our way home, the butch teen-age boy running the cash register said, totally deadpan, "Looks like y'all done got in the glitter.". It's nice that life gives you chances once in a while to step outside of the everyday and get into the glitter!