Tags
Chi Omega, college life, college students, dignity of a woman, Faith, Life Today, self-respect, SFASU, Student, teens
I’ve met so many interesting, fascinating, heart-warming and thought-provoking people this weekend I couldn’t possibly be clever enough to incorporate them into my feeble attempt of sharing a brief update.
However, for all of you that I’ve met who might be first time ‘voyeurs’ into my crazy world, I wanted to explain this is a daily blog where I try to summarize the way in which God showed up for me, how I might have possibly showed up for Him, or the times I’ve failed. Yes, we all fail on occasion…maybe we don’t speak out when we know we should, leave a situation when we know we should, or step in when it’s clear we should.
I’d like to think I’m honest about what I share and I try my best to keep it to my own reaction or response to the day rather than exploiting anyone else. I do this with the intent that readers will relate and maybe find a message from God within my own lesson.
This weekend I spent reminiscing and going back ‘in time’ to days where I’d have to say I was lacking maturity and strived to uphold ‘good morals’ but often found myself failing (brought on by low self-worth and dignity). It wasn’t easy to go back to the same places that make you want to cringe inside. It was a blessing, though, to see the Chi Omega house where I lived for a year while an officer in the sorority.
The front of the house, the bedroom where I lived with the President of the sorority, the XO wall, and our kitchen
Our Crest, Composite of my pledge year (I was 18), the Composite of my 2nd year as officer and a picture with Pat Spence our advisor (who helped me through so much in a time of my greatest need).
Tour of SFA Campus…seeing ole ‘Surfing Steve’ again…no bubbles in the fountain, crazy.
Going back through both good and bad memories, I had a great time with my Chi Omega pledge sisters and catching up with those that were in the pledge class before us or after us.
A small portion of Chi Omegas from ’90-’95
We got to know one another as we are now as moms and professionals with a deep sense of morality and life knowledge behind us. We did the banquet, dinner, networking, picture taking, and song-singing obligation.
The banquet and speech.
Our group (the 90′s classes) found a great wine bar with an atmosphere proper to our time in life.
Top left picture is me, Misty and Alicia. Alicia and I were roommates last two years of college. Sunny, Johanna, Alicia and I on bottom right. All my pledge sisters
We’d been to a new dance hall the night before and I had the chance to learn three new line dances. It was nice being in a place that held no memories of that time in my life (before Neal of course). We met some graduate students that didn’t mind country dancing and we had a great time. But this was our last night and when it came down to it most of us wanted to relive just a little taste of college once again – Cover charges, over priced drinks, and more dancing. With designated drivers we ventured into what felt like a time warp and went back to an old hangout. Only the ‘old’ hangout had changed in more ways than an added expansion.
Sports Shack once held up to its name – shack. We would cram into the tiny little wooden house, where the guys went their way to play pool, watch whatever game was on and have a few beers. The girls would converge into this one room that had a tree smack dab in the middle with a bench around it. There was a jukebox that blasted tunes through the speakers and a very very small ‘dance floor’ where we circled up and danced. That’s what we did ‘back then’. NOW, however, seems to be a different story. The ‘shack’ part is still the shack…but when you walk through the doors to the added room it was … interesting. Dark, smokey and packed with college students shoulder to shoulder on a dance floor and more students on the stage. I’d say they were dancing…if you’d call it dancing.
Interesting. That’s all I have to say about that. 
In fact, I am very happy I went through those double doors because it was like getting a first hand glimpse of what I battle against when speaking to certain groups. Research. I had enough about 5 minutes into it and went back to my safe place. LOL
That’s when I saw a young woman so drunk she could barely keep herself standing. I watched as a young man (I’m going to assume it was her boyfriend…that or a young man who at least cared enough about her to keep here standing…but not quite enough to insist on taking her home.) A few other ladies with me watched her as well and we all felt that pang of remorse for the times we might have presented ourselves in this way all those years ago. Finally, after about 10 minutes when I saw her boyfriend prop her up against ‘the tree’ and get in line for a drink, I couldn’t take it anymore and walked up to her, “Are you okay?” I asked. She jumped as if I’d physically shocked her.
“Do you need a ride home,” I asked.
The look she gave me was that of sheer disgust. She moved away from me and stumbled back into her boyfriend’s arms.
I walked back to my group who stood in shock. “I can’t believe she looked at you like that,” one said. “That was nice of you to offer her a ride,” another said.
It was a knee-jerk reaction on my part. Maybe I should have left her alone. I don’t know what she might have thought about me or why her response was to run and give disgust. It doesn’t matter…it obviously caused a sting which might bring it to the forefront for a while. All I can do is pray for her now.
The weekend was great, I’m glad I participated and reminisced, and if anything it encourages me to keep doing what I’m doing. Which reminds me, I had an interview released on Life Today. I’m so grateful for having had the opportunity! Check it out!
Blessings Shannon
Just Show Up 
🙂