The Ballard Bunch
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The Prom

At the end of May, after the Cadbury Hunt and the party at Newton's, and after the All-Color-Kitties party, the kitties of r.p.c. (rec.pets.cats) held the First Annual International Fur Ball Prom. We all went to the prom -- Ceilidh went with her winkwink, Rocko, of course, and they double-dated with Rocko's brother Oliver and Ceilidh's bestest frend Skye. Rocko and Oliver came for their dates in their own private Lear jet which they set down in the parking lot of the church next door to our house (imagine the neighbors' surprise and amazement!). Rocko also sent Ceilidh a reel bouquet (not a virtual pooter bouquet) of flowers -- Ceilidh was thrilled and so was our hoomin (who was also a little jealous since none of her hoomin winkwinks had ever sent such beeyoutiful flowers onna first date!). The Siamese Cat Club Chorale made their first official r.p.c. appearance as part of the evening's entertainment, so once they all arrived at the prom, Mewsical Director Ceilidh had a really busy evening.

Above is a pikchur of Ceilidh and Tally admiring the bouquet Rocko sent Ceilidh.  (Tally thought the flowers were salad and tried to eet them, but Ceilidh wouldn't let her.)

Tally didn't have a winkwink then, and she thot it might be fun to go with her mentor, Spike VC. But some other kitties played a trick: they told their housemate Giuliani that Spike wanted to go with her and got her a bright yellow prom dress and then had her go tell Spike that she was all ready to go to the prom -- but Giuliani was a d*g!! A German Shepherd d*g!! Well, efurrykitty waited to see what Spike would do when Giuliani said she was happy to be his prom date.  Tally thought Spike should hiss and swat Giuliani's nose. But Spike was a real gentlecat, and he agreed to escort Giuliani to the prom. Now that was very gracious, but Tally was most unhappy about this turn of events. Even though she and Spike were mentor and mentee, not winkwinks, she had something of a crush on him, and really didn't feel he should be going to the Prom with a d*g. However, Spike showed the wisdom of his venerable status and invited Tally to accompany him and Giuliani. The three of them made a grand entrance with the two cats riding on Giuliani's back, and Giuliani conducted herself with such grace and nobility that the kitties all agreed to name her an Honorary Cat (H.C.). Tally and Giuliani became good friends, and later on Giuliani stood up for Tally at her bewinking to Pandora.

The Prom was a great success and efurrykitty had a wonderful time. Bigman and Electra were named the first King and Queen of the Prom and Newton and Collette were named Prince and Princess. The very first edition of the Weekly Caterwaul published articles and pictures, and Gretchen Marie found another society page article which she shared with us all (FANGU Gretchen Marie!). We pasted alla articles in our scrapbuk (we may have torn a corner or two off in our excitement, but we think the most important parts are still readable). Here's thuh article Gretchen Marie found:

From the Mews News Service:

FEASTING AND FUN FEATURED AT FELINE FESTIVITIES

The prom night for representatives of the rec.pets.cats newsgroup will be the unchallenged high social event of this season and a lifelong treasure of memories for all the attendees.

The First Annual International Fur Ball was held Friday, May 24, in the Grand Ballroom. Hundreds of felines gathered to enjoy their first prom as well as pre-and post-prom parties for a fun-filled exciting weekend. The hotel grounds showcased a park and reflecting pool to invite attendees to fresh air, romantic strolls and lively conversation.

Festivities began early and reflected the free-spirited comraderie which set the tone for the evening as cats arrived in elegant private automobiles, limousines too numerous to count, a double decker bus, the Goodyear Blimp, and a 30-meter long 40-ton howitzer painted in an environmentally correct green decorated with rally stripes and 400 twinkling Christmas tree lights.

The parking lot itself was an aweseom sight, drawing continuous expressions of awe and delight. Equestrian mounted police were plentiful for directing traffic and keeping watch over all the vehicles.

Applause was nonstop as the naturally elegant felines disembarked and made their way toward the hotel. Fur coats were groomed to ultra-purrfection and proud eyes acknowledged the admiration. Females choosing to accessorize their already sumptuous au natural appearence wore elegant and colorful collars of satin, velvet and pou de soi adorned with corsages in a delectable variety of Mother Nature's flowers and herbs.  The males, not to be overshadowed by their stunning counterparts, wore ties and traditional boutonnieres, the simplicity of which truly enhanced their handsome masculinity.  There were also baskets of corsages and boutonnieres available so that all guests could be fancy and stylish if they wished.

As the floor-to-celing double doors of the ballroom slowly swung open in perparation for the Grand March, a spectacular display of tasteful decorations heightened anticipation of forthcoming festivities.  Flags of all countries represented by attendees hung along the walls. Beneath them were satin banners in semi-abstract designs and colors of the various cat clubs, including the White Cats Club (WCC), Black Cats Club (BCC), Orange Cats Club (OCC), Tabby Cats Club (TCC), Fluffy Cats Club (FCC), Purring Cats Club (PCC), Siamese Cats Club (SCC) and The Tuxedo Nation (TTN). Suspended from the ceiling, large nets temporarily trapped thousands of balloons in colors of all cats in the world Ms. Gretchen Marie and her committee truly captured the international flavor of the event!

Suddenly a gentle chime sounded and the lights were dimmed once, signaling the imminent commencement of the Grand March.  Meows hushed to whispers and a long line of felines in two's and three's began to form.  The orchestra, skillfully conducted by Major, struck up a stately version of the "Grand March" from Aida by Verdi.  The first cat couple led the line in a promenade up the middle of the floor.  Upon reaching the orchestra stage, they turned left and proceeded to the side of the room. Behind them, other couples and groups did likewise, alternating turning left and right untill all had promenaded in and waited in anxious delight at the sides of the room.

A most noteworthy entrance deserving special mention here because it was a gesture of typical open-mindedness inherent in all felines, was the delightful yet dignified arrival into the ballroom of Spike and his mentee, Talisker Pippin, riding elegantly on Giuliani, a German Shepherd D*g (yes, believe your eyes that you read this), all adorned in beautifully coordinated yellow acoutrements.

The attendees thus having made their official entrance, all were welcomed and urged to fill the dance floor with a hearty "Efurykitty, let's dance!" from Major, whose downbeat started the orchestra in the first lively number. A nonstop variety of tunes--traditional, rock n roll, romantic, fun--kept paws gliding and toes tapping in couples' dances, circle dances, and line dances throughout the evening.  A special jazz combo's performance of "Efurybody Wantz to be a Kat" from Da Ristocats brought jitterbug enthusiasts to the floor in an exhausting display of freeform dancing.

During a well-deserved break for the orchestra, there was no dull lull here!  Ceilidh Flurrydance, Mewsical Direktor, provided entertainment of polished vocalizations by the supremely talented Siamese Cat Club Chorale. Their scintillatingly sinuous entrance onto the stage to the "March of the Siamese Kittenz" from The King and I, evoked gasps of pleasure from one and all. They also sang "We Are Siamese If You Please," and "Thatza Amore," which brought loud cheers from pizza aficianados. "What'z New, Pussycat" with punctuated "wow-o-wow-wow's" was accompanied by rhythmic clapping from the audience which continued through "When the Red Red Robin" and "Rockin' Robin." A unanimous demand for an encore brought forth a medley from "Catz." After satisfying audience requests, the Chorale led everyone in a sing-along of "We Luv U Kitzen" and "U Are My Sunshine Becuz U're Gray," songs dedicated to favorite members of the rpc group.

Just when one thought pleasure had reached insurmountable heights, all cats twined their tails together and sang "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" for all of their departed kitty friends who had crossed over the Rainbow Bridge. There can be no doubt that these passionately remembered comrades joined their spirits to this uplifting rendition.

To bring the entertainment to a delightful conclusion, everyone joined in singing a rousing version of verse after verse of "The Song of the Great Cadbury Hunt."  This song describes the spirited planning and display of great bravery by many of those present in a recent adventure which surely will be recounted over and over for generations to come. (A second adventure, The Great Souven Hunt, aways immortality in verse and prose.) Such unbridled fun understandably resulted in many guests revisiting the buffet table for nourishment.

In addition to winkwink friends, dating couples, friends and singles, one noted with pleasure and approval that, though many younger cats were in attendance, they were carefully and lovingly chaperoned and mentored by gentlemen Distinguished Older Cats (DOC's) Spike, Shu and Socrates, and gentlelady Sophisticated Older Cats (SOC's) Ceilidh and Skye. One's confidence was solidified that future generations will continue to demonstrate impeccable feline manners and traditions.

Alas, the evening drew to a close, not with regret but with further anticipation of post-prom activities.  Balloons had been released from the ceiling and had been batted and popped and held close for a lasting remembrance.  

Ah, but what more fitting conclusion to such a remarkable event could there be than the last dance to the traditional "Goodnight Sweetheart."  This is the stuff that dreams and memories are made of!  As the melody wafted through the air, cats joined together on the dance floor, purring softly.  The lights were dimmed and all that could be seen was a kaleidoscope of reflections from the rotating mirrored ball casting dancing lights across shining fur coats and 400 glowing eyes.

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