Lubbock, TX – home of Texas Tech University. Flat. Dry. Construction. Everywhere.
The roads would change paths daily, no lie!
Epsilon Epsilon chapter – FUN-omenal women.
Sometimes you just click with people. And I clicked with the women at double E. I don’t know what it was that lead to such a strong connection. Maybe it was the similarities I saw between them and my own chapter? Maybe it was their laid back attitude and ability to make me relax and fit in automatically?
Maybe it was Kate – the Director of Standards and Ethics who was at the airport with Ciel, the FVP to pick me up…my typical first few sentences include usually include the question, “where are you from?” Okay so maybe that’s a little boring and unoriginal, but keep reading!
Ciel (whose name means “sky” in French – I have a small girl crush on her): I’m from Austin.
Kate: Well, I guess I’m from Texas. Houston, if I had to pick a city. But I grew up all over the world…so…”
SOUND FAMILIAR? I stared at her thinking, ‘that’s MY line!’
Me: Where all over the world?
Kate rambled off about five or six places – Thailand being one of them.
Me: How awesome! I lived in India, Kuwait, Pakistan, Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates…
We stared. Laughed. And that was the beginning of an incredible visit.
But wait, it doesn’t stop there. Kate and Ciel drove me (in Kim’s car) to the ADPi Lodge (a house that no one lives in, for the chapter to use) and after a little New Delta recruitment practice, Kayla and Lisa, two of the recruitment councilors took me to dinner where the President was to meet us. Get ready for this “six degrees of separation” connection…
Kayla: Is your necklace in Arabic?
Me: Yes, it is!
Kayla: Neat, I have one too. I got it in Dubai last Christmas
Me: Dubai? Why were you in Dubai?
Kayla: My Dad lives there. I go every Christmas. I actually got engaged there – but I’m not engaged anymore. Long story. Yeah.
Me: Oh. Wow. Well, I graduated in Abu Dhabi! Like, an hour away from Dubai.
Kayla (who greatly resembles dear friend, Jeannette Johnson, in so many ways - that made me happy): Oh totally! I love Abu Dhabi, been a few times. Wait, when did you graduate high school?
Me: In 2002.
Kayla: Do you know Adam Graves?
Me: Wait…that name sounds so familiar. Is he tall? Skinny? …Incredibly pale?
Kayla: Yes! He was dating this girl named…
Me: …UNA!
Kayla: OMG yes! She was gorgeous.
Me: Oh wow! Gorgeous? I guess (we have a bad history)…she really wasn’t a very nice person – but YES! I know Adam – he graduated a year before me. Why? How do you know Adam?”
Kayla: He’s my brother! Well, my step-brother, but YEAH! (They look NOTHING alike)
…How incredibly random? Who would have thought – in Lubbock, TX, that I would have made that connection?
The rest of the week was fantastic. Sure, there were complications here and there, but there wasn’t anything the chapter couldn’t handle with my help. I felt such a comfort with some of the members – the Formal Recruitment Chair and I, Whitney – love her – we had more in common than I would have ever thought – in terms of our “personal” lives, just the opposite. It was so great to have women to talk to on a personal level – that’s something I miss having in my life.
Firsts in Lubbock: I had my first “un-wich” at Jimmy John’s…a sandwich wrapped in lettuce (no bread). It was delightfully delicious and a constant crunch with every bite! Yummm!
