Snow, retrospection, interviews, presentations, goofing off, subtle significant transformations, singing, friends, and… car accidents… what a night.
Just to clarify the car thing before the yap session (™), no one got hurt (i was the only one involved) and both vehicles are fine, my car just has part of the bumper missing now and I’m a little rattled because that was my first ever accident. It probably could’ve been avoided, but I have very little confidence when turning and pulling out in tight spaces and would’ve accidentally hit either of the vehicles next to me as I pulled out or the concrete wall. Thankfully Bradley, Ali, and Erick were very understanding as to why it took forever since there’s apparently a thing called the “Kappa car curse” and it chose me tonight. Yay (sarcastic). But! We still made it to Cane’s afterwards, and everyone was still there to celebrate tonight! Yippee!
I’m really glad it snowed today. For me, it definitely made the day a little bit better and a lot more memorable. I was really bummed when I missed the first snowfall at home because it started snowing as I was driving back to Springfield, so getting to see the first snowfall here was a big fat cherry on top of the day.
Also, now, I feel bad that I haven’t gone to more things nor documented what I did go to properly, especially degrees. I don’t plan to write down much of what I experienced when it comes to degrees since I don’t want to spoil the surprises and, well, the experiences for any future MCs, but I do wish I wrote down all of what happened in degree 1 and 2 on a separate document so that I won’t forget the feelings of it all. I suppose that’s something that can be done in future degrees for future MCs, yeah? Nah, it’s their time to shine.
And yes, I was serious about everyone I’ve interviewed getting their own page here, but I don’t have them set up yet… just keep looking out for them I suppose. Incentive, inschmentive. Interviews done today: Erick, Dalton, and Dallas!! Yay, yippee!! I’m honestly surprised how little I knew about any of these guys considering how open they are and that one of them is literally in my section… I think, hands down, the most surprising thing I learned across all of them is the fact that I most likely competed against some of them during my freshman year in high school!
I loved seeing everyone’s ideas for their portfolio project come to life and get shown off today with how unique and authentic each one was. I, for one, feel a little like a cheat since mine took a lot of inspiration from my parents’ online journals way back in the day and just. made one for kappa. And maybe also because I forgot that I was going to make a website for this until like… 9am? Yeah… oopsies. So some things didn’t make it in the “final cut” (but they will be appearing soon!). I can’t speak for anyone else, but I could definitely see everyone’s unique touch and personality shine through in their projects and that was definitely my favorite thing.
Before 3rd degree actually started, we were absolutely goofing off while we were waiting in a tiny room for 11-14 people. We did the hokey-pokey extended vers., tried our best to prank the actives who were babysitting us (didn’t work, they were just confused), and played Hannah A’s version of “Down by the Banks” which was highly off-putting for me since its similar but very different from what I played in my days in Girl Scouts. I looked it up and neither are the original, but mine is far more obscure? I can’t find any reference to it, only ones that are vaguely similar.
For reference, mine goes something like this: “Down by the bank where the hanky panks where the bullfrogs jump from bank to bank saying fe fi fo fum, me say me say ding-dang-dong. I pledge allegiance to the flag, Michael Jackson is my dad, coca cola burned his butt, now we’re drinking 7 up, 7 up has no caffeine, now we’re talking jelly bean, jelly bean ran out of sight, now we’re talking dynamite, dynamite blew up the school, now we’re talking really cool. (sometimes there were up to 6 more verses like that, but the ones included were the ones you’d always hear, followed by) Mickey Mouse built a house, Donald Duck messed it up, who shall pay the consequences? Y-O-U spells you!” It’s really weird to me that it’s not documented anywhere considering every person at any GSEM camp could sing the core verses without any issue. I know for a fact there were ones for Mountain Dew and Dr. Pepper, but the only reference to either was one for Mountain Dew which was definitely not the one I used to sing… oh well, I guess. Not like I’m going back any time soon, all things considered.
Now this is mostly degree stuff, so I’m not gonna say much on it. It was definitely an experience I’ll remember and very fun. Also got a lot of information about fraternity symbolism and secrets and indicators and whatnot (none of which I will remember fully, sorry). Now, I’m an official active member! Yippee!
Afterward, of course, we sing the hymn! For some reason, this time was especially touching to me. I honestly wish I recorded it. Everyone who weren’t there for football games and even some alumni were there to sing. I can’t really describe what it felt like to me since there were a lot of emotions for me at the time, but it could compare to feeling and knowing you have a strong connection with everyone around you. Truly memorable. And now, I actually know what we’re doing during and after we sing!
And, as (almost) always, we went out to eat after everything was wrapped up and put away. Just sitting in Cane’s and talking about anything and everything felt really nice. I’m honestly a little sad that I haven’t gone to any other hangouts like this before (except IHOP…), but there will always be more and I’ll definitely be at them. I got to learn a lot about everyone, their relationships with each other, and some recent and upcoming events.
All in all, today really felt like the first time I’ve had a family outside of my blood family. There’s something incredibly special about that.
Follow your light.
The Kappa-Log 