It's that time of year again when teens from all over gear up for prom night. Because of this, I sat down with three women in the same family - a daughter, a mother, and a grandmother - to talk with them and to compare prom experiences through the generations. We talked about dress styles, hairstyles, and prom themes. We also discovered a few surprising revelations as far as how each generation viewed the importance of prom.

Pam Forbeck graduated the same year I graduated in 1981. We agreed that our generation must have been a serious bunch, although we couldn't quite explain why. We thought of prom differently than Grandmother Bonnie Fries Texeira and Daughter Taylor Forbeck Pam said, "It wasn't a big deal to go to prom back then. Now it's a big thing."

Bonnie graduated in 1958. She said, "I could tell when Pam was growing up. There was a different feeling for that generation. Pam's class had different priorities. For Taylor, I can see that things have gone back to being a little more special like they were when I was growing up."

Taylor is a junior at Belleville West High School. Like her mother and her grandmother, she is very active in school activities. Among many pursuits, she is a cheerleader and a straight A student. She is also on the prom committee. She will be attending her first prom in April. The theme will be "Antartica."

Bonnie was also on the prom committee in the 50s. Her theme had something to do with heaven and angels. She remembers the feeling she got after they finished decorating the gym at the old Belleville West. "The gym didn't look like a gym anymore," she said with a smile.

Bonnie believes she went to high school during "a good time." She went to all four of her proms. Popular bands like The Glenn Miller Orchestra played at her dances. For Pam and Taylor, getting such a popular band to play at their proms would have been impossible. This year, Pam will be reserving her day to focus on Taylor's prom. She wants to help make Taylor's night special. Pam is a hairdresser. In past years, she's seen girls come through her shop getting ready for Christmas dance and prom, and she's noticed that girls do things differently now. They have their nails done and their hair done, and they talk about how excited they are about prom.

Pam said, "I don't remember any of this. I didn't get my nails done, and I fixed my own hair. It sounds like how I got ready for my wedding day."

Pictures are a "big deal now" Taylor said. She and her friends plan to gather their parents together in a nice setting to take pictures before prom night.

Pam said with a little laugh, "We stood under a trellis with fake roses, and they snapped our picture."

Bonnie also had her photos taken at the prom under a trellis. She wore a "Southern Bell" type dress. It was white with a wide mint green sash. She had a hoop and layers under her dress. These days, dresses are sleek and they come in bright almost neon colors. Taylor will be wearing her hair like Katherine Heigl wore hers as she walked down the red carpet. Taylor will also get to walk down a carpet with her date while parents watch on.

Security is an issue for Taylor at her prom. It's something that wasn't even considered when her mother and grandmother went to their proms. IDs are required before anyone enters the dance. A form must be filled out for those who are not students at the school and going to prom.

Taylor will be going to the dance this year with her boyfriend and a group of friends. Her grandmother also went to prom with her sweetheart and her special circle. Pam said, "When I went to prom, you just hoped that hot guy would ask you. I didn't say ten words to the guy."

Taylor added, "I think that's why it's better to go with someone you know really well." Her grandmother agreed.

After Prom in the 50s, Bonnie went out to eat at Tony's. Pam in '81 traveled the after-prom party circuit. Taylor will be going to an after-prom party sponsored by the school. Talking with Bonnie, Pam and Taylor was interesting. I appreciated their candor. I expected to write an article about the dreamy experiences of each generation's prom, but I learned that prom isn't like that for everybody. Maybe it's the times. Maybe it's generational. Did Pam and I want to be different from our mothers' who grew up in the 50s, consequently, becoming "too cool" for prom? Or is it a matter of thinking things through a little more carefully. Going with special friends and with somebody you know well might make things more memorable. We won't be able to make clearer conclusions until we see Taylor getting her daughter ready for the prom. Will her daughter's generation swing back and also become "too cool" for prom? Only time will tell.