Sigma Kappa Legacies!

The one thing I've ever wanted more than anything else in the world was my own sister. Someone who I could dress up with, giggle & share secrets with and fall asleep talking about boys with. Lo & behold I only ever got an older brother...who never seemed up for those types of things. Especially with his baby sister. Can't quite blame him...I quickly decided that I'd do just about anything to be able to be accepted by him, so I'd try to play cars and boy stuff with him if he let me. Apparently my 'gun' sounds were never quite right. Nor could I drive correctly on the imaginary town roads that were in his mind....to me, it was a wide open floor, so I could drive wherever I wanted! Don't get me wrong, brothers are great and I'm SO glad I've got one. He really is the best. However, I would've been completely fine with being the middle child if my parents had had another baby and it have been a girl. Well, I would've been pretty screwed if it had been another boy. HA!

Once I got to college, I decided to do the sorority rush thing....I was completely uneducated about the whole system and experience. I was a true 'yankee' outsider....all of my fellow southern belle classmates had been groomed by generations of sorority women in their lives and would no doubt go to the most coveted sororities. Me? I didn't even know the greek alphabet, let alone serve as a legacy to any sorority. At one point before rush, after scouring for letters of rec, I almost decided not to go through with it. What if I was rejected by all of them? What if no one liked me? I was extremely used to being the 'new girl' all the time from moving around in the military, so that portion didn't scare me. All I had to do was make a few friends and hope to blend in a bit. Sorority rush was much different....huge groups of girls would be there critiquing my every word and move. I was terrified. However, I went forward with it and I'm so glad I did!

During the week I realized how much fun I was having...and how much in common I had with so many of the other girls! Some were like me in that they moved alot growing up, or came to Auburn from waaayyy out of state (I was hailing from Washington DC at the time since my Dad was stationed at the Pentagon). Some were just searching for a group to belong to. Some were even searching for what I was - sisterhood.

I eventually narrowed it down to my top two choices: Alpha Gam and Sigma Kappa. Luckily, I found out later that both were fighting to get (gasp!) ME! I prayed and prayed over which one did I most feel at home with...and in hindsight, had I chosen the other, I no doubt would've been just as happy as I am now. They were both that great. I ended up pledging Sigma Kappa for many reasons...one big reason was one girl who was truly like a big sister to me that week...Patti McClanahan. Patti is now married and lives elsewhere, but she made me feel so welcome. I adored her from day one. On pledge day, she hugged me tighter than even my mom hugged me...she was so excited I was there. I was elated. I had finally gotten my wish of a sister...and morever, I had gotten a whole lot more than one...I had a whole chapter full of them!

Over my four years at school at Auburn, I have the most wonderful memories of date nights, swaps and formals with Sigma Kappa. Giggling during formal chapter meetings, going to pep rallies and more...it was a dream come true. Since graduation, I've stayed in touch with many of them...sharing in celebrations large and small. Luckily for me, now I have two daughters of my own that not only have each other as blood sisters, but are also Sigma Kappa legacies...something I'm so proud of.

Recently, after having had Camilla, one of my SK sisters, Jessica, stopped by to shower Camilla with gifts (and lots of them!)...and it even included "Future Sigma Kappa" shirts for both Camilla and Sophia! Even if neither of my girls pledges Sigma Kappa, I'll still be proud of their legacies. It was a brief visit, but I loved that Jessica took the time out of her very busy schedule to visit!

Jessica, Camilla & Julie (rocking the au naturel look)

Sophia & Camilla's Sigma Kappa gear!

Next up, one of my best friends (& old roommate) from Sigma Kappa, Nancy, came down to visit and meet Camilla. Nancy and I were nearly inseparable in college and found ourselves in all sorts of pickles: from classwork, to dates, to everything in between. Nancy and her mom brought lunch to my house and we had fun catching up. Sophia loved Nancy and called her "Fancy" instead (which if you know her, that's pretty fitting - ha!)...then Nancy got to meet Camilla too! It was a huge treat to see Nancy & her mom...better yet, it was a huge treat to get to introduce my girls to my own sisters. I can't wait to introduce them to many more in the days, months & years to come!

Julie, Camilla, Nancy & Sophia