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-   -   Stories of Sisterhood (http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/showthread.php?t=87973)

SWTXBelle 06-17-2007 05:28 PM

Stories of Sisterhood
 
Let's share stories of what sisterhood means - I'll go first.

My grandfather died almost two years ago, leaving my grandmother in Tyler, TX with a great deal of yard work (he was a master gardener back in the day).She told me she was overwhelmed with a number of small jobs that she physically just could not do. I knew we had a Gamma Phi Beta colony in Tyler, so I got an e-mail off to the consultant.We talked on the phone, and the next thing you know, 26 Gamma Phis were at my grandmother's house, mulching the yard, cleaning out the pond, etc.
I had never met them; they had never met me. But they are my sisters, and I am so grateful to them for helping my grandmother. Love, labor, learning and loyalty - personified.

What's your story?

Trisana58 06-17-2007 05:58 PM

That's beautiful...

AKA_Monet 06-17-2007 07:38 PM

Yesterday, as of June 16, 2007 and a long year of planning, my city culminated with the 2007 Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. My sorors and I sat on the Race Planning Committee and worked Registration and Survivor's Breakfast.

It was a lot of work, such as getting up at 4 AM and staying around until 2 PM.

Here are some pictures below:

http://shim1.shutterfly.com/procgser...0AZOXDds1YsmLg

and

http://shim1.shutterfly.com/procgser...0AZOXDds1YsmLg

I am truly happy as a result. Good idea!

SWTXBelle 06-17-2007 07:40 PM

That is great! Y'all rock!

AOIIalum 06-17-2007 08:08 PM

I love these types of stories! AKA_Monet, congrats on a great event and gorgeous pictures. Same goes to the Gamma Phis at Tyler, because if that isn't living your ideals I don't know what is.

As for me, I was hit by an drunk driver while I was in college. The driver was older and not a student. Luckily, I was only in the hospital for a week but spent the next few years recovering and going through various surgeries and so on. As soon as my sisters heard about the accident, they came in and decorated my hospital room with get well posters, AOII letters, and pandas and roses *everywhere*. In addition, a lot of my friends in other sororities came in and did the same, so my room was not only AOII but Panhellenically decorated!

Virtually my entire chapter came to the hospital on Sunday afternoon after Canoe Regatta (a big intramural thing at my school). My parents, who never really “got” the whole sorority thing, were so impressed to see such an outpouring of love and support from AOII. Same goes for the guy I was barely starting to date at the time (now my DH). Even 20+ years later my mom still comments about how the AOIIs supported me during that time.


AKA_Monet 06-17-2007 08:15 PM

Thanks ladies!
 
More pictures posted here

Oh, we worked closely with the ladies of Zeta Tau Alpha alumni and undergraduate; as well as the ladies of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.

SWTXBelle 06-17-2007 08:16 PM

Glad everything worked out for you, AOIIalum - and how wonderful to have the support of not only your AOII sisters, but the Panhellenic community!
I hope PNMs read these stories - it is often so hard to portray the strength of our sisterhoods.

KSUViolet06 06-17-2007 08:32 PM

My chapter moved into a new house in fall of 2005.

We were pretty excited to be in our new house, mainly because of the dramatic staircase in the foyer. It was really beautiful, but it was also hardwood and slippery.

That summer was hectic because all of our House Tours party plans were made for our old house. So we were working twice as hard during Refinement Week to basically put together a whole new party to fit the new house.

This particular day, we'd all been up since 8am trying to work on the line up for House Tours. We were trying to figure out how to arrange girls on the top of the staircase.

Background: I have CP, so I am extremely accident prone. :)

My Big asked if I wanted to just stand on the bottom, but I'm stubborn, so I insisted that I could line up at the top like everyone else. I made it up to the top just fine. But while I was standing up there, I sneezed, slipped and tumbled all the way down (that's 25 hardwood stairs folks)!

When I hit the bottom, I was so shocked that I didn't move, but I remember mumbling that I was fine. Over their screams of "Oh My God", I guess no one heard me. Before I could attempt to get up, my Big and 2 other girls were like "DON'T MOVE". They picked me up, put me in a car, and drove me to the ER.

I figured that the rest of the girls would stay behind and finish working on recruitment since classes started the next day. Nope. Everybody got in their cars behind us and came to the hospital too.

I was in the ER pretty much all day waiting, getting x-rays and making sure nothing was broken and was pretty sore and miserable. They all stayed as long as they could (before the hospital told some of them to leave). It was nice to know that I had them to hold my hand and take my mind off of the annoyance and misery of being in the ER. I remeber a nurse telling me "Wow, those girls sure do care alot about you to stay here all day."

I ended up with a few stitches and sprains-nothing major. The Dr said it could've been WAY worse.

I was released later at night and they ALL came with my Big to come pick me up. Over the next couple of days, I had plenty of phone calls, texts, and dorm visits to see how I was doing.

When you talk about sisterhood, that's one of the days that sticks out in my mnd.


Hopeful_Bubbles 06-17-2007 08:45 PM

I love stories like these! Makes me glad I've decided to throw my hand in in recruitment.

AGDee 06-17-2007 09:39 PM

I have so many stories because every time I have gone through a difficult time in my life, my sisters have been there for me. From the time my dad had a heart attack while I was in college to sisters getting me through two divorces. My sisters were so helpful and supportive last year while my mom was in the hospital. When I've sent out messages on a listserv for recommendations for personal care aides from my mom, I have always had offers of help. When I was very sick and needed surgery, which meant 8 weeks off work at 60% of my pay, as a single mom, I received a SIS grant from our Foundation which helped pay the mortgage. So, my sisters have always been there for me.

There is one time I was especially touched as a collegian. One of our sisters suddenly had to support herself completely because her father was laid off. She was working almost 40 hours a week and going to school full time and thought she was going to have to terminate her membership because she couldn't afford the dues. Well, we weren't having that, so we each chipped in a few dollars every month (our dues were only $24 back then, but heck, minimum wage was $3.35 an hour!) and paid her dues for the duration of that school year. She was able to work enough over the summer to cover things better the next year and resumed paying her own dues. I was really touched by how the whole chapter reached out to her during her tough time.

AlethiaSi 06-17-2007 10:52 PM

Those stories are all so wonderful!

My group is a local, so we're all we have (w. alumni of course) and there are so many times when I was sick (I had severe strep throat more times than I can count, and had to be rushed to the ER when my throat would close) and my sisters would check on me every hour, literally sit and feed me soup and water and watch movies with me for hours on end. When I was so far away from home, that was the best thing that they could have done for me.

We've had a few sisters that have lost parents and close friends suddenly and all of my sisters banded together and helped out, went to the funeral, etc....

I feel blessed everyday to have these wonderful girls in my life.

texasgirl444 06-17-2007 11:34 PM

This has been one of my favorite threads!

Football Fan 06-18-2007 12:03 AM

Years ago on Father's Day our small son died in a tragic accident. I cannot express to you the enormous shock and loss this was to both of our families. We were devastated.

I belonged to the Tri-Delta alumnae group in the area at the time. After the funeral members would call, drop by and check on me while my husband was at work. One day some of the DDDs came by with a sweet pansy vase and bouquet as a remembrance. Eventually, his room had to be cleaned out and the little clothes packed away. My husband and I were emotionally unable to do this. My dear Tri-Delta neighbor came over and helped me complete this task in a loving and supportive way. I know I could not have survived that terrible time without the emotional support of my sisters. Both our families were so filled with anguish themselves they could not be the help we needed at the time.
Many of these ladies hardly knew me except as a new alumnae member. I remember and am grateful still for the support they gave me during this extremely difficult period.

PM_Mama00 06-18-2007 12:18 AM

These stories are all so great. I have a few sisters that I've become close with that I know I could count on for things like this, but it really makes me jealous that I don't have any stories like these.

KSUViolet06 06-18-2007 12:42 AM

Another story that sticks out in my mind:

One time, while we were away at Retreat (at a camp on a lake), a sister's boyfriend (of 4 years) called and broke up with her. She was devastated. We were out in the lounge of the cabin and we heard her in the back room sobbing.

We all went back and she was curled up in a ball on the bed sobbing "I can't believe ____ broke up with me." We didn't know the whole story, we just wanted to make her feel better.

A couple of girls drove into the nearest town and got some snacks and ice cream. Some girls had already brought movies so we put one in. We moved all of our sleeping bags into the back room with her and had a slumber party.

It didn't solve the problem but at least it made her feel better to know that she wasn't alone.


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