Friday, August 26, 2011

Old School

I don't talk about college much, because it happened a zillion years ago other than the semester I spent in London, it was not the happiest, most positive time of my life. I'm mortified by the things I do remember and therefore, am thankful that there are so many things I don't (e.g. sophomore year, most of my classes, and every Friday after about 5:00pm).

One bright spot, even though I was large-and-in-charge, continually inebriated and had a GPA hovering around the 1.4 mark (fat, drunk and stupid obviously was a way to go through life), was getting a bid to a pretty fun sorority. I know, I know...people have their opinions about this and trust me, my roommate and I got a lot of mileage out of doing things like mentioning our secret song in public whenever the sorority president was within earshot and threatening to sell our secret handshake to the Zetas. We figured that the silly secrets and rituals were a small price to pay for all of the parties, living in the sorority house (with the constant pillow fights and make out sessions, it was just much more convenient) and making a statement by ordering our sorority sweatshirts in black (rather than the official purple color) to demonstrate what non-conformists we were.

It was also nice to share experiences and responsibilities, like co-editing the sorority newsletter.

One especially humiliating thing required of all sororities (and fraternities) at my school was participation in an annual event called "Greek Sing." Each organization was required to sing a medley of themed songs as their entry into this contest, and would be fined if they did not. Many of the sororities (including mine) really got into it -- we even made matching glitter shirts and choreographed hand motions to go along with our song medley. We rehearsed and got stressed out and really put a lot of effort into it. Unlike the stoner fraternity, who basically gave a middle finger to the Panhellenic council for requiring this by dubbing the theme of their performance, "Songs with Os in them" and then standing there and singing "Good Love" and "Moondance" in their mismatched shirts along with a CD.

My heroes.

Anyway, now that I'm older and can reflect on my past with experience and perspective, I realize that a lot of the angst I had at the time had to do with my lack of confidence, self-esteem and the tremendous amount of self-loathing that defined who I was. In retrospect, I think that perhaps my college experience was actually kind of enjoyable. A photo from one of my sorority formals that I found recently confirmed this:

Me, seemingly happy, with my pledge class at the Sigma Sigma Sigma Violet Formal.  (Click to enlarge.)

And then I flipped the page in my scrapbook:


Me about 43 seconds later. (Click to think long and hard about writing that tuition check...)



15 comments:

Doug W said...

Lush.

Kath said...

This is more insight into that period of your life than I have ever had. Other than disagreeing about whether or not saddle shoes were a trend, and an incident I will only refer to with the code name "canoe," your period of not liking yourself in college kinda left those of us who think you are the best person in the world out in the cold.

I am pleased to learn that you also brought it -- and by "it" I do mean "pieces of flair" -- to the Tri Sigs. Proud of you, honey.

dilettante07 said...

My hero.

Lisa Randazzo said...

It looks like the girl who was into you in the first photo found a sister who appreciated her more in the second photo.

Brutalism said...

Doug - on my BEST day

Kath - I again recently ordered saddle shoes thinking they could be a trend now. They went back when I opened the box and Avery laughed.

To our credit, we survived "canoe"

Tante - me or the stoners? Or John Elway?

Lisa - total hussy

Christian at Point Counter-Point Point Point said...

Your last post made me crave tapas. This post is making me crave alcoholism.

P.S. This very well might be the funniest two sequenced pictures I have seen in some time. Kudos!

dilettante07 said...

John Elway can't knock it back like you can, my friend.

Was that sangria?

Anonymous said...

I don't know you, but I think you added spice to that sorority that it sorely needed! You are an inspiration to all women in sororities (hicup..burp)......

Anonymous said...

I don't know you, but I think you added spice to that sorority that it sorely needed! You are an inspiration to all women in sororities (hicup..burp)......

BTW my word verification for posting was "foloutsh" ?!

Brutalism said...

Christian - Craving alcoholism? My work here is done. And I may have a new tag line for my blog -- will I need to pay you royalties?

Brutalism - Making you Crave Alcoholism. I like it.

Tante - Dunno. I do recall making a shot bong for one formal -- which is a mini beer bong that gets Peach Schnaaps into your system much more quickly. It was genius, really.

Anonymous - I think I was a bit like a sorority mascot that served to make everyone else feel better about their drinking during those years. I give and I give and I give...

Christian at Point Counter-Point Point Point said...

Oooh I like it too. As for royalties, as you know, I do accept payments in the form of cake. Or it's on the house. I usually always offer both options. You would think most people would choose the "on the house option". And you would be right.

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Ed said...

Look at you! Rocking the 80's hair!

Even back then, you were a hottie.

Unknown said...

Maybe because I'm going through something similar myself, but that was a genuinely interesting "period-piece" of sorts. Shall come back for more.

Brutalism said...

Ed - Me and Aqua Net were BFFs. (And not just for huffing purposes...)

icyhighs - Sorry to hear that. Not the best period of time. If someone paid be a million dollars, I would not re-live my 20s.