[American Soldier]

Observing the severely critical on-line mob that seems to be gathering, I feel quasi-paternal duty to offer a few words of understanding for the young woman featured in this article. Spending thousands of dollars on a teenager's prom (when you are not the teenager in question) may seem like a ridiculous act, but I think more people than will readily admit it have tastes just as fabulous and extreme as the child who is now being so brutally assailed.

I am 26 years old and have damn sure spent more than $10,000 dollars on booze in my lifetime so far. And I missed prom! If you're honest, some of you will admit that you have spent several times that yourself. Was your spending really a more worldly endeavor than the doubtlessly amusing time had by this girl?

If you take into account compound interest of only 8% (I believe they told me this was the time value of money in grad school) in 70 years, that would have become $2.1M dollars. But in 70 years, I will likely have become an angel or fertilizer, and either way will have no use of the money.

I cannot say for sure whether there will be any good bars in Heaven. I doubt it, because I've never found well-attended bars near well-attended churches. So, once I arrive in that great dry county in the sky, I will be relishing the memories of every fabulous drunk I ever pitched in the far flung capitols of Earth, no matter what I paid for them -- because they were a hell of a lot of fun, and I certainly don't foresee any more of them occurring where I plan to go!

So I'm not going to begrudge this young lady her own ridiculously excessive entertainment. Good on her parents for making enough money to buy such nice things for her. I'm sure they worked their asses off for their money so that they could spoil their kids.

Whatever I don't drink away, which I genuinely hope and intend will still be a considerable sum after my deductions, well... I hope the kids take it and have one hell of a prom. If there's any left after that, I recommend acquiring real estate or low risk mutual funds.

[LoveDoc]

To: American Soldier

From: Love Doc

Well put, my man...

[Tijeras_Slim]

damn sure spent more than $10,000 dollars on booze in my lifetime so far

Lightweight... that's only 5 small shots of Dalmore 62 year old scotch.

[freema]

Guess you didn't see how her dad makes his money LOL!

[Drew68]

cannot say for sure whether there will be any good bars in Heaven. I doubt it, because I've never found well-attended bars near well-attended churches. So, once I arrive in that great dry county in the sky

That's why I'm going to hell where all my friends will be! ;-) Plus, if heaven is populated with the types of people who are certain they are going to heaven, I don't really want to spend eternity there.

[Guenevere]

Just curious?...How do you plan on arriving in the 'great dry country in the sky'-(your words)....

...or maybe I should ask...Where do you plan to go?...and How do you [plan to get there?...(per your post)