The Fountain of Youth

My name is Julie, and I am a sorority girl.

Why is it that most of the time when I tell people I was in a sorority, I say it with a little bit of apology?  After years of movies about sororities being filled with Legal Blondes and party hard sluts and busty Daddy's girls, I'm here to set the record straight:

It's all true.  And it was awesome.

I'm kidding.  Sort of.  I am a Chi Omega - Eta Beta, baby.  And yes, there were some Legal Blondes and party hard sluts and busty Daddy's girls in our house, but usually the sisters were only that for a night or two during the year.  I had a few party hard slut nights, and bi-polar stalker nights, and woe-is-me-oh-the-drama nights, and a whole hell of a lot of really kick ass fun nights.  (And a number of drinking nights and a few throwing up in various vessels nights, but I try to focus on the party pics.)  Here are just a few examples of some nights at Chimichanga, as we so affectionately sometimes called it, which I am not bound by grip, motto, or law to keep a secret:

• Barb putting maxipads on her elbows and knees and practicing falling down the stairs.
• Tina "sleeping" on the floor in the entryway after a night out and people putting a masking tape outline of her body on the carpet.
• Someone plugging up the toilet and everyone in the house lining up to see it, while one girl sobs and says, "Some horrible fraternity boys put some horse shit in our toilet!"
• The entire house, which at the time was around 100 girls, cramming into the living room to watch "Dirty Dancing" about 30 times.
• Getting out of bed at 11 a.m. on Saturday, a little rough from the night before, hitting the kitchen for a donut and then heading out the sundeck for three hours.
• Singing.  Oh so much singing.

 There they are - the sisters of Chi Omega, 1989

OD said, "What's with the hair? You all look electrocuted."

I'm sitting on the deck.  Because I'm a loner. A rebel.

During rush in a skit.  I'm the hippie on the left.

Barb of the maxi pads is center, Kate on the right.

Last weekend was my 20-year Chi O reunion in Chicago.  It's hard to believe it's been 20 years, particularly after seeing these gals, who honestly look fan-effing-tastic.  My former roommate, Kate, and I drove to Chi-town on Saturday morning, so we missed the Friday night fun.  Apparently, even though the organizers of the trip booked the rooms in a distant corner of the Westin, they got their first noise warning at 8:45 p.m. and their second one at 12:30 a.m., threatening eviction.  So of course, they went out.  By the time Kate and I arrived Saturday a.m., we joined them at a restaurant,where everyone was in running clothes, gripping their waters and coffees and completely hung over.  It was just like walking into the dining room at the sorority house on Saturday morning 20 years ago.  Some things never change.

With my homegirl Kate.  We inexplicably wore a LOT of costumes

during college, where there were very few costume parties.  Huh.

With the girls of Eta Beta, pledge class 1987,

who could make it to Chicago last weekend. 

Twenty years and 25 kids later. 

I'm in the cream, and from this angle,

apparently 7 feet tall and missing a hand.

What sor-whores do when they get together -

drinking, eating, polka dot writing, pregnancy tests.

It was a great weekend, and I was sore from all the laughing.  Somuchfunbestimever.  But my point here isn't that sororities are fun.  My point is that you need to keep your friends close.  I have my posse of seven high school friends who get together regularly (See you in November, girlies! Rally!), and my college friends who get together less regularly but are going to do better, and some groups of friends from different towns in which we've lived, and I'm here to tell you a little secret:

Your girlfriends are the Fountain of Youth.

They keep you young, they think you're terrific even thought they've seen you at your worst, and if laughter is the best medicine then you are the junkie to their dealer.  There is nothing like a night with old friends to make you feel young again.  So if you haven't seen some of your girls in a while?  Call them, and make some plans.  It's worth it.

Chimichange Love, Eta Betas! 

I...had...the time of my life....and I owe it all to you!