908 East 3rd Street - Together Again

| I realized I haven't written in a while, but that is because I have been having fun. I spent last weekend in Chicago getting together for my Alpha Phi pledge class reunion. Oh what fun. It was so funny to cram a bunch of girls in one apartment in Chicago and spend lots of time catching up. I know it is Thursday now, but it took me a few days to recover from my wham bam weekend. It was so great seeing all the girls I used to live with. I sometimes can't believe how I lived with 100 girls in one house - but it was so much fun. I guess you really have to experience it to understand it. So many late nights, funny drama, cramming for tests, dinners that started before 5 (yes, it was like a nursing home), and so much more. I remember being scared out of my mind during pledgeship. I gave serious thought to dropping out. I didn't think it was for me. Now I look back and can't believe I misjudged it so much. At first pledgeship did take up a lot of time and I thought most of the girls seemed crazy, I soon loved every minute of it. This weekend really brought back lots of memories and reminded me how special the ladies of Alpha Phi are to me.

Moving in sophomore year was a blur to me. How could I remember all of these girls names? It's not like you can walk in and say "hey girls" to everyone - every time you entered a new room. I lived with Karen, Carrie, and Katie. Gosh, all the "K" names were tough in the beginning. I'm glad they decided to throw me with my “W” in the mix. I had such a wonderful semester living with those girls. We had a huge room in the house and I'm not sure if I have ever laughed so much as I did that semester. It didn't matter that Katie started every single sentence with "Get this..." or obsessively color coordinated her closest...and then mine. Or that Karen came home in the mornings wearing a frat shirt with really tall going out boots on a regular occasion. Or that Carrie absolutely hated my "shit pile" next to my computer. Where else was I supposed to put my crap when I only had a tiny closet? I made the best of friends with these girls. Next semester, I was moved into the smallest room in the house with 2 other girls, Leslie and Gilbert and enjoyed my secretarial duties of my position in the house. We were all loud and crazy girls...in the smallest room known to man. All three of us could never stand up, let alone get ready, at the same time in that room. It didn't matter; it was the best of fun. People who didn't live in the house wouldn't even walk in the room because the lack of space made them feel uncomfortable and anxious. At least I am prepared if I ever want to move to NYC. Honestly, was there a time when we didn't have Kylie Minogue blasting from our room? This was the year IU made it to the national championships and we have great memories from this time. We spent lots of nights staying up late, ordering breadsticks, making our rounds at the frats, and loving every second of being together.

All that fun eventually caught up with me and I got Mono. Party foul, right? Anyway, I chilled for the summer and recuperated out in Maine as a camp counselor. All summer I could not wait to get back to IU. Junior year, I lived in a decent sized room with Carrie (again) and Tara, but get this (that was for you, Katie) - it did not have a single window. Wtf, right? Well, it didn't really matter to me and now I know what it would be like to be a vampire. We lost all feeling of what time of day it was when we were in there. That semester was definitely an experience, but by that time I was looking ahead. I was planning to study abroad in Italy with Kathryn, a fellow Alpha Phi. I was prepared, we were used to extreme living conditions, so it was totally fine that our kitchen was the size of a bathroom, and our refrigerator, stove, and sink were seriously made for little people. Our bedroom was huge, but we couldn't really make use of the space because the only things in there were our beds and our Gap favorite tees (basically the only clothing we brought - we thought they were versatile, easy, and had the option of being dressed up or down). We would wear our Gap favorite tees out to the bars. I snagged a dark gray one before leaving the US and Kathryn couldn't believe that they came in dark gray. I would let her borrow the gray one for special occasions. Now I think I would physically gag if I touched a fav tee. Check back in a few years, maybe I will wear them then. Anyway, I had a great time studying abroad - got to experience life in another part of the world and met lots of cool people. Leslie got to come see me too! Even though I was in amazing Europe, I longed for my dears friends at IU. It was sad to have to leave, but I was not sad to return to IU.

Senior year I lived with Karen (boot girl), Kathryn (favorite tee girl), and Tiffany (friend from high school). Senior year was lots of fun and I felt the freedom of "living out" of Alpha Phi. I missed the cooked meals everyday and the maids. What was I thinking when I decided to move out? Senior year came and went so fast. I was so sad to leave IU.

This past weekend was so much fun because it brought back the carefree lifestyle of college. On Friday night, we hung out at Lauren (Claytor) {sorry lauren, I had to add the last names just in case people don't remember- haha} and Megan's apartment and waited for everyone to get into the city. Lauren was ridicously funny when asking if we remembered certain people and used their first and last names, like it has been 30 years since any of us spoke. We went out Friday night and had lots of fun. Our feet were aching from the heels we used to be able to wear out all the time. Saturday we hit the beach and watched the Air and Water show on the North Ave beach. We all met up for dinner on Saturday night and got to catch up over some tasty Italian food. We then hit up a bar and I swear, I saw like 897234 Alpha Phis. Some older than us and some younger. We then continued to go out to see more of Chicago's nightlife and then rocked out to SexyBack in the cab on the way home. That def made my night. It was a little rough to get up Sunday morning only a few hours after I went to bed, but it was nice to spend a little more time together before we all had to leave and also share stories from the night before. The wkd consisted of dancing, gin and tonics, beer, going out, pizza, staying up past 4am, and having the best time. The only thing different now than from college is that it took me days to recover and I was sore the next day. Am I really getting that old?

Last weekend was just like old times. I still can't believe how great it was to see everyone. It is impossible to be bffs with everyone in my pledge class because there are just so many of us, but it I couldn't have been happier than seeing each and every one of 'em. We are all bonded together and shared such an exciting time of our lives together. I really do care about every single on of the girls and want the best of them. We got through everyday life, the exams, rush (I’m sorry, "recruitment"), the long days and nights, and 4 years of before-the-real-world fun - together.

I'm so proud of all the girls and I truly cherish every second while I was at IU. I knew while I was there that what I was experiencing was something I would cherish forever, but I was having too much fun to think about it. I'm glad it was that way. I look back now and love it. I'd give almost anything to go back to that time. Too bad college doesn't last forever.

Anyway, before I enroll for another undergrad experience or try to convince everyone that we should all rent a house together (we are talking about some seriously cheap rent!), I should wrap this up. I am so happy that I saw the wonderful ladies of Alpha Phi that could make it to the reunion this past weekend. Those who couldn’t make it were definitely missed!! Everyone seems to being doing fantastic things - so proud of everyone, not just because of their accomplishments but because of who these ladies are--girls I, and so many others, can count on for a great time, a shoulder to lean on, definitely some laughs, to reminisce about the good times at IU, and share our futures. Thanks for the wonderful weekend – it was long overdue and very much needed. Let’s not wait a long time to do it again!

*I’ll post pictures soon. Check back.

So since I have returned from vacation, I have been hit hard by the realities of finding a job. I spend long hours a day sitting at my computer, sending out resumes and crossing my little fingers that a good opportunity will come my way. I knew this stress was waiting for me when I returned from vacation, but it was much easier to put the stress behind me when I was sitting in my little beach chair, sipping a mojito, and enjoying the view of the ocean. I better go be productive...or start constructing my sign.