Life in the Age of Corona

A Daily Diary

Friday, May 7th, 2021

Prom Night

When I woke up this morning, I was pleasantly surprised – almost no clouds, no wind. Should the weatherperson have been wrong with the forecast after all? I was cautiously hopeful.

My morning was rather busy, but I had taken the afternoon of to work on the set-up for our alternative Prom. As the day progressed so did the clouds. The forecast stubbornly foresaw a 100% chance of rain at 16:00 -19:00. This is so very unfair of the universe.

The Senior class ’21 has had a really shitty year with none of the traditional senior events happening. Today was supposed to be fun. An opportunity to dress up, create some memories and have lovely pictures taken by a professional with the monuments on the National Mall as backdrop. Why, oh why must it rain precisely at the time of the event which is scheduled to begin at 17:30 and end at 20:30?

The organizing committee feels mocked so as not to say angry. We have put so much work into this event, so much careful planning. Beginning with scouting venues, thinking through the logistics, making flowerpots for decorations, organizing a DJ, two photographers, and thankfully canopy tents. Could it not have rained in the morning or after 20:30?

I was down at the 12th Street gravel of the mall just a little after 15:00 as there was far more traffic than expected. The tent people were already there with their trucks. They were super nice and helpful. We walk along the gravel, which is about 40 meters wide at its widest to establish where exactly the tents would go as they cannot be moved once they are erected. Each of the 80 square meter tents is set up next to the lawn at the intersection to the Madison Drive gravel walkway allowing for a spectacular view of the Washington Monument and the Capitol from each of the tents. Between the tents is enough space for a small soccer tent, where the DJ has set up. In front of him in a straight line another soccer tent where parent volunteers will give a rose to each participant. Five of us mums spend two hours last night trimming the yellow roses and tying blue ribbons to each single stem. In a straight line behind the DJ another small soccer tent has been set up for the photographer to take cover. The first and last soccer tent each have a banner, one blue, one yellow, with big lettering “Congrats Class of 2021”. We also have to retractable banners “BCC Class of 2021” and the Baron printed on them.

I have prepared six pots of yellow Chrysanthemums with the pots wrapped in blue paper and tied with yellow ribbons. These are set out on the cement blocks anchoring the big top tents. Another six were done by another mum with an assortment of blue and yellow flowers planted in them, so six per tent. With the sun shining and setting over the mall this all would have looked festive and cheerful. Now I am worried with the rain it will just be sad. At least it is not pouring, but more of a drizzle.

Thank goodness for my research into venues, which turned up that permits by the park services include an exemption on gathering limits and once issued allow whatever one has applied for as the Major of DC has issued an order prohibiting dancing and music! Fortunately, the National Mall is Federal territory and our permit explicitly allows music.

I rushed home as I wanted to help EM get ready. Help her with her hair, dress, choice of handbag etc. Turns out she is not here but has departed for the BFs house so his mother can do her make up, apparently EM does not have the right things. It just does not feel right. I had even offered for the stylist to come and get her ready. I am so disappointed, now on two levels. She did come home to get dressed here including her best friend A., the BF and his mum, who was kind of excited that J. gets a Prom afterall. They allended up at our house to get ready and leav from here, dressed in their finery. It turned out to be beautiful departure.

Shortly after the teens, I departed also as I was in chargeof the dismantling of the event. The Chrysthenthesumums and the banners caem home withme. My friend D. came down to the Mall to help with the dsmantling of the soccer tents and returning them to their rightful oners. We ended the night chatting over champagne at home while the young folks went out for dinner. Despite the miserable weather the event was a success and all seemed to have had a lot of fun.

The virus does not disappoint, it continues to spread with 47k new infections reported over the past twenty-four hours to bring the US total to 33.4 million since counting began.