University of Dayton - MyLife

Honorary Sorority Girl

I currently have some greek letters written on my hands in green permanant marker. Apparently this makes me an honorary sorority girl..from Michigan.

I have maybe three or four friends left from high school that I still talk to...and the one I've been closest to the longest (all the way back to fifth grade) goes to college in Michigan, and I went up to visit her Friday night. This weekend was a big weekend on campus (school tradition type of stuff...mostly things I don't get because I don't go to school there).

The plan was to go to the Taylor Swift concert. Gloriana and Kellie Pickler were opening..and if I'm completely honest with you, I think Taylor Swift is one of the coolest people EVERRR.

I got to Sam's house knowing she had to go to something before the concert, but I wasn't sure what time or how long it would be. Turns out we had some sororityfraternity traditions to take care of...

Let me paint you a picture: Enter Katie and Sam into a house full of sorority girls and fraternity brothers...all of which I have never met before.

These people have been apart of Sam's life for the past few years, so I felt slightly out of place (not to mention I was one of the few not wearing a matching t-shirt.) Sam did her best to make me feel included, and it wasn't that I felt 'left out', I guess I was thinking more like Sam was torn a bit between her 'sisters' and me. I could tell that this was important, and I didn't want to be the reason that she missed out. She kept telling me how excited she was that I was there, and while that put me at ease, I couldn't help but think about how much more fun she could be having if she didn't have to baby-sit me.

The crazy thing was, I seemed to have it all wrong. I thought Sam was so close to these girls. They were her sisters, right? And they understood who she was now. I hadn't seen Sam in at least a year, so I knew there might be a gap between us, but when you know someone for so long, its usually very easy to pick up right where you left off. There's no doubt in my mind that Sam's sorority sisters and other close friends know her very well. They know the goings on of her everyday life like what she's struggling with and what great things happened to her this week.

But at one point during the night, when responding to a comment or something, Sam turned to me and said something along the lines of, "Well you would know...out of everyone in this room, you know me the best."

I was so taken back by that comment. Maybe her closest friends weren't there? Her little sister wasn't there. Maybe she knows her the best? I can rationalize and try to diminish what Sam said all I want, but I'm not going to. I'm choosing not to. That was a very unexpected comment from Sam, but an absolutely perfect one. Probably one of the greatest things anyone has ever said to me. It was like at that moment, Sam acknowledged how good of friends we really are, and I'm not sure she even realized the impact it had on me.

It was exactly what I needed to hear to validate my 10 hours of driving over a 26 hour span. It made every cent I spent this weekend worth it. It really made me see Sam as a true friend, and not just someone I grew up with.

Like I said before, Taylor is probably one of my favorites. So to miss the opening acts and the first two songs (two of my favorites) for this sorority/frat stuff was not my choice. Honestly, I was quite heartbroken, but I tried to not let myself show how upset I was. The old Katie would have pouted most of the night, not allowing herself to enjoy the part of the concert that we were there for, but I made the choice to enjoy myself and I actually had a great time! I probably called and texted more people than I should have, but ultimately, I really loved the concert. Taylor was fabulous.

I think Sam really enjoyed showing me around her college town. I'm just hoping I'll get the chance to do the same for her in the next 7 months (Let's not talk about how quickly those months will fly by.)

Showing off UD is always one of my favorite things. I really hope Sam will find a way to come visit this year! I think she (or anyone who wants to come visit me) would have a great time!

Oct 4, 2009 12:47 AM Permalink