Perspective

Just last week I had what I would consider a somehwhat serious health scare.  By Monday, I had gone to the doctor who agreed something was just not right and wrote me a script to have some tests done.  I did some crying and a lot of soul searching.  I had plans at the end of last week to head to NC for a college reunion and though I doubted if I wanted to go, I sucked it up and went.  I spent the week up to NC reflecting on my life - what I had accomplished, and what more I wanted to still accomplish.  I didn't see how a weekend in NC would fit in with scheduled tests the Monday after.

Once in NC surrounded by friends, my worries about this health scare and the coming up tests were diminished.  I felt my heart literally being lifted up and it is very true that a weekend away was just what I needed to renew my confidence and optimism that I would be ok.  Through conversations with others I discovered most of us have our challenges - some much worse and some better than mine.  And somehow all of this eased the worry.  And when I left NC, I felt more than ready to tackle any challenge this life was going to throw at me.

Luckily, my test results came back normal, though I do have to follow up with another appointment.  What I do know for certain is that my perspective changed over the course of the weekend - whether from the fresh air and sunshine, or the laughter and love of old friends, I will never be certain, but because of it, I am able to continue my favorite mantra: Life is Good!

True Life...

Confession: I was, and will probably always be, a sorority girl. 

Whewww...I said it.  As I am approaching my ten year college reunion, I am quickly reminded of my amazing four years at Elon College University (though it will always be College to me!).  And the majority of those memories are all centered around one thing: Sigma Kappa.

 Come be a Sigma, Sigma Kappa.

Come be a Sigma Kappa girl.

We are the Sigma, Sigma Kappas.

We wear the Sigma Kappa pearls!

I wonder if I didn't go to school in the South if I would really be a sorority girl...because in the South --- girls are born and raised to become part of their mother's and grandmother's legacy and become initiated into the sisterhood bonds of sorority life.  And though I didn't wear pearls, though a lot of my sisters did, I, too, became initiated into the sisterhood bonds of sorority life.

I loved wearing my letters on Wednesdays, and my I <3 Sigma Kappa button daily.  I wasn't a big fan of our ritual whites, but I absolutely loved my badge.  I loved decorating mugs for my roommates, making posters for my little's door and shopping around Valentine's day buying all the violet and maroon heart themed things.  I lived with sorority sisters for three years at college --- and yes, girls do fight, argue and scream, but we also laughed, cried and laughed again.  During my junior and senior year, I lived with Jamie and Moe, Maureen.  And god, did we have our fights. Doors slamming, arguing at all hours of the night and fights that seemed like they would never end. But the fights are not what stands out in my mind --- I just remember spending almost every hour of my life with these girls. I don't think there was much I didn't do without one or both of them. And though we have grown apart, I know that forever and always, we will always have that bond...

(Yes, now would be when I should break out into either, "We laughed, until we had to cry, and we loved right down to our last goodbye..." or maybe " Sigma Kappa is for me, it's everything I am, everything I long to be...dah-dah..." I have way too much time of my hands at 7 am!)

In the past 10 years, some of my sorority sisters have reminded me that there truly is a sisterhood bond - from driving up from VA and MD to surprise me for my 30th birthday, to surprising me on the beaches of Ft. Lauderdale.  I have seen several of my sorority sisters get married - in MA, Long Island, MD and Orlando.  I have met their children, their boyfriends and even their dogs.  We have come together yearly in NC to "just get together".  And though we don't talk all the time, I know I can call any one of them and things would just pick up from where we left off.

And though my letters are put away, I can't help but get excited at the fact that in two weeks I will be reunited with some of my sorority sisters...some of which have become life-long friends and some I haven't seen in many years.  I know that there will be at least one go round of some Sigma Kappa chants, and of course the "remember when" conversations.  (And yes, Elizabeth, there will be Biscuitville!).  And I can't help but think, "should I be making mugs for this?" :)

EK <3,

Marcie