In the recent years there has a been a lot of attention on rush or the politically correct time “Recruitment” at the University of Alabama. I am thankful when I went through rush 19 years ago, we didn’t have social media or Tik Tok. I’ve written before about how much I really didn’t know or understand about sororities at the University. All I knew is that I wanted to be in one and my friends from high school were rushing.

Particularly, one event sticks out in my mind. It is one of those events that changes the course of your life without you being aware until you are 37 years old looking back and writing a blog. On the night before Bid Day, the penultimate event, “Serious” Night as we called in 2003, was a time of reflection and self-contemplation on what house you really felt at “home.” If I’m being honest, I thought Panhellenic was surely joking. There was no way I’d know in a week’s time if I would know enough about a sorority to think in “serious” terms of a forever home and sisterhood.

Well, Serious Night 19 years ago I met a girl, a sophomore from Enterprise, Alabama at the DZ house on Serious Night. I asked her if we had to talk so seriously. I still wasn’t buying into the algebra equation behind sorority rush: one week = one house=rest of college and life. It seemed hokey like Billy Mays (for the younger generation please google “Oxyclean guy”; God rest his soul) would come down and say “Hey! Billy Mays here! All you have to do is add two scoops of Oxyclean and this is the sorority for you!”

Flash forward and from that not so “serious” talk, I pledged DZ but more importantly I gained a forever friend. Today’s her birthday. I miss her and not a day goes by that I don’t think about her and the blessing she was years ago and is to this day. Lindsay Beth, thank you for being your true, genuine self so many years ago and allowing me to see that real people did exist in sororities. I’ll admit there was some doubt- I mean have you seen the door songs? Stepford wives’ kind of shit but hey I did a door song (somebody had to stand on those chairs, and Lord did not give me the good lucks or talent to be a front row gal but whose knees are hurting how? Ha!) More importantly, past the door songs, ice water teas, etc. there are good people that will be in your wedding, at your baby shower, and that you will love you forever.

As I disclaimer, to my knowledge no sorority girl was hurt in this blog post. If you can’t laugh at yourself, then you are taking life way too seriously. I have no grudges against door songs; I am just not the cheerleader type. This disclaimer is not legally binding but maybe it will save me from some mad comments about my dislike for participating in door songs. I digress. Happy Birthday to the girl whose maiden named will always be pronounced with a growl! I love you!

Ah… the good old days of Zap photos and no one using a straightener.