Recap: Prom Night @ Diamond Bar

Last Thursday night, one of my favorite local stores, WORD Bookstore, was hosting a "Literary Singles Night" and the theme was Prom Night. How fun does that sound? So I got all dressed up, grabbed two of my local gal pals (Jaci and Sherry) and the three of us hit Diamond Bar on Franklin St, in our beloved little neighborhood of Greenpoint.

Here we are upon our arrival. We really do look fantastic, if I may say so!

Kelly, from WORD, was getting things ready - including the crowns for Queen & King:

We hung out in the backyard for the early part of the evening (scene from the backyard) -

We met some new people - most notably, a guy named Jack who looked spectacular, but I sadly didn't get any photos of him in his custom made plaid suit. We also met a reporter for the New York Times that sat down with us. She talked to us a bit and her photographer snapped a bunch of photos, but we didn't know if any of what we did or said would make the article. We continued drinking and chatting and having a splendid time.

Two authors read excerpts from their books about their own bad dating stories. I went inside to listen:

We returned to the outdoors. But a short while later, Stephanie came outside and grabbed me (this is Stephanie - manager of WORD - and me):

She led me back inside where they announced I was Prom Queen! That's right. A 38.75 year old Prom Queen (I may have been the oldest woman there, come to think of it). I was shocked and confused. I didn't even know I was up for the title! I had done nothing to deserve such an honor other than don my finest rhinestones, but I gladly took the sparkly crown and title. (who wouldn't?)

Then I enjoyed an awkward dance with Gregory, the Prom King, who I had met approximately 10 minutes earlier. It was really bizarre and funny.

I tweeted the exciting news to the world and then showed off my crown in the bathroom because I love bathroom photos!

Later at the bar, a young woman approached me and asked me if I had helped her carry her TV a few weeks back. Why, in fact, I had! It was the awesome day of the punk rope games that I shared on my WW blog. I was walking to the gym for my run and saw a young woman struggling to carry a large TV by herself. I asked her if she wanted help. She accepted. I walked another block and a half with her, carrying half of it. It was so heavy I wondered how she had managed on her own before bumping into me. (Hello, Gaby! I was wondering if I'd ever bump into you again! Hope you're enjoying that TV!)

Eventually, Jaci and I walked home (Sherry was mysteriously nowhere to be found. And neither was the Prom King.) She lives across the hall from me, so we said good night and entered our respective apartments. I shed my prom duds and was only in panties when I saw a gigantic millipede on my wall. I hate those things. HATE them! I opened the front door, hiding my nakedness behind it and called out "Jaci? Are you awake? Do you want to kill a bug for me?" Like a trooper, this woman came into my apartment and killed that awful thing like it was nothing as I cowered, practically naked, behind my door. It was huge too! Jaci, you're my hero!

That night, I enjoyed tweets and texts congratulating me for my "Prom Queen" title. But the most exciting moment had to be the next morning when I saw my image accompanying the article on the New York Times website! How freaking cool is that?!

What a totally amazing night and experience! I will never forget it. Thank you, WORD Bookstore and thank you to my friends Sherry & Jaci who attended with me*. I had a fantastic time!


*Rowan & Jeremy- it was nice seeing you briefly. Sorry I didn't get a photo of you kids!