Tonight, on ABC Family, one of my favorite guilty pleasures returns for it's final season. It's a gem of a show called, 'Greek'. Set at the fictitious Cypress Rhodes University, it chronicles the highs and lows of life as a student and member of the Greek community. I'll be the first to admit that many of the plots are exaggerated stereotypes, but there are just as many that are spot on, which is precisely why I love to watch.For some strange reason, anytime I think about 'Greek' I think about my friend Celeste. (For those of you who know Celeste you are probably smiling right now, even if you aren't familiar with the show.) I can't say that we've ever even talked about the series, but still, I always draw a parallel between the two.
I met Celeste during sorority Rush my freshman year at the University of Tennessee in the fall of 1999. There were over a thousand girls going through Rush that year and everything was organized alphabetically. Our last names both start with 'W' so it was inevitable that we were usually standing only feet apart as we waited outside each suite waiting for the parties to begin. The week started with Open House, a hectic day that included visits to all 14 sorority suites. After the third or fourth party I had become annoyed by a tall, thin, blond-haired girl with an crazy personality who seemed to find amusement in even the most mundane things. As you might have guessed, this girl was Celeste.
I never shared my annoyance with her, at least not that week, but as the days went on and the parties were fewer and fewer, I noticed she was still in nearly every party line I attended. On the last night, pref night, there she was again. And after the parties, when it was time to fill out the pref card, she was in the back of my head as listed my top choice. I couldn't help but think, if we end up in the same sorority, I will quit. There's no way I can handle someone that obnoxious in my life. Besides, we're so different, what are the odds that we would end up in the same place anyway.
Well, the odds were pretty good. When I opened my bid card, I was thrilled to have gotten my first choice, Zeta Tau Alpha, but my enthusiasm was lessened as I entered the suite and saw that my worst fear had come true, this person who I didn't think I could stand next to in line for even a minute more was now a part of what would be a significant portion of my college experience.
There were many times over the course of that first year when we had to work together and got to know her better. What I first saw as obnoxious and crazy eventually became part of the charm that is Celeste. Before the end of Spring semester, we had even become good friends.
Over the years, Celeste has always been there when I really needed her. A shoulder to cry on when my heart was broken, a cheerleader when the obstacles ahead seemed too challenging and a drinking buddy when the afternoon was just too nice to not have a beer on the patio at Calhoun's! She even gave up whatever plans she might have made to stay with me during Fall break senior year after I had my tonsils removed and my mom couldn't be there. We don't talk everyday, actually, it's normal that several months go by between our chats. But when we do get together it's like no time has passed at all. What I've learned over the years about Celeste is that I was never annoyed by her. I was annoyed that she was always so comfortable in her own skin, just being herself; something I could never do. Ultimately, I am a better person for having her in my life. I learned not to take life so seriously and that if you are too worried about what everyone else is thinking, you'll never be able to let go and have a good time.
Had it not been for our Greek life, I can't say that we would have ever become friends. But I am thankful we are. Of all the people I met and formed friendships with in college I value the friendship I have with Celeste the most. When I look back twenty or thirty years from now, I am sure that we will still be friends and hopefully we'll be telling our kids stories of our wild and crazy youth over big 'ole glasses of wine!
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