Has It Really Been 10 Years?

This past weekend Shannon, Landon and I headed to Arkansas to return to Ouachita Baptist University for our 10 year reunion. I can't believe we left the "Ouachita Bubble" 10 years ago. It seems like just a year or two ago that we were running around that campus, spending late nights eating at Taco Bell, and hanging out in the Evans Student Center Bridge. My memories of OBU are so great. Those 4 years were some of the best times of my life. They were also some of the most challenging, and I can't imaging having to deal with the life-changing events that happened to me in those years without the family I had at OBU. I loved my sisters of Tri Chi. The friends I made in college are my life-long friends that I am still close to today.

This weekend was a blast. It was great to see, in person, so many of my old friends. So many of them I keep up with on their blogs and facebook that it felt like we had seen each other just last week. On Friday evening we had a dinner party at the Walker Conference Center on campus for our class. Here are a few of the gals that were there.

(Back row: Misty, Angela, Me. Front row: Jennifer "JC", Aimee, Sandra, Patti)

On Saturday we went to campus to for OcTiger Fest -a new tradition. Each club or student group on campus had a spot in Grant Plaza to set up tables with memorabilia, pictures, snacks, etc. We started off at the Tri Chi tea. We made our "Ring of Sisterhood" and the girls sang the Tri Chi Song. I helped write the words to this song my senior year, left them with one of the girls, and then never heard anything else about it. I figured they were long forgotten. After I left OBU Jason Greenwich put the words to music. A few years after I graduated the girls sang the song for the first time at a homecoming tea. They made sure Shannon got me to the tea and they surprised me by singing the song. When the girls sang the song this past weekend it reminded me of the girls who cared so much for each other, through thick and thin, that inspired the words to the song in the first place. Although I don't remember all the words, and don't know the tune, it was great to be there for that simple tradition. We walked around a bit, met some of the current Tri Chi ladies, and looked at old photos. I was surprised when Landon could pick me out of the club composite photo from 1996. I've changed quite a bit (about 60 pounds), but I guess I still look about the same in the face. We took a few pictures with one of the "X"s that my pledge class created many years ago and Landon played in the fountain!!
After that we headed over to the S's table. Shannon was a ΣAΣ at OBU - a tradition that began in 1932. While Shannon shared some memories with the current members I took Landon's picture with the letters and paddle. I just hope this picture doesn't come back to haunt him in about 16 years!!
We took a stroll around the plaza talking with old friends and professors we ran into. We took Landon's picture with "The Tiger". There are LOTS of school/club traditions surrounding this tiger, I fear this will not be Landon's last time here with the Tiger.

We stopped by the Starbucks at the cafeteria and then headed down to the tailgate party by the football field. Again, we met up with old friends, enjoyed a nice picnic lunch, and Landon bounced and slid on the bounce houses - again, and again, and again... After lunch we walked over to the game. Again, chatting with friends and watching some of the football game. We stayed through the half time show. The OBU band did a great job! As the band was entering the field, Landon stood on the wall staring in amazement at "all the instruments". He loves music, and was excited to see so many instruments in one place. Shannon and Landon went over to where the S's fire the canon; another long standing tradition.
We left in the 3rd quarter to head over to the Burger Barn. I worked at the Burger Barn while in college, so we had to make it a part of our reunion tour. Shannon and I ordered our favorite meals from the past - me a Petit Jean Chicken Sandwich and Shannon, the Dagwood (although they no longer have Au Ju sauce).


(At this point, I forgot to take any more pictures! - so if you are reading this and you have any great pictures to share, please let me know - Sandra?)

Karen and I left all the boys at the hotel and headed to Tiger Tunes. This was the 30th anniversary of Tiger Tunes. I love Tiger Tunes. I loved being in it for 4 years, and I love watching it. My senior year the Tri Chis won Tiger Tunes; we were Crayons!! This year did not disappoint. It was just like it was 10 years ago. They will re-show the Saturday night performance on the OBU website in a few days. I will post a link to it when it is up, so you guys not from OBU can get a sense of what Tiger Tunes is all about. Not only is the show a great experience, the HOURS and HOURS of practice that go into making one of these shows happen in quite an experience in and of itself. We got home late from the show, but not too late to see Sarah Palin on SNL - so funny!!

After a "good" night's sleep we woke up this morning and met Aaron and Karen for breakfast at Cracker Barrel on our way out of town. The ride home was uneventful; which is nice. Now we are all back home gearing up for another long work week!!

Counting down the days to our next reunion.

Here are some photos Sandra took of Ouachita a few weeks ago while visiting.