[irishpipes]

AOII memory? On the day of my initiation I was sitting in one of the bedrooms of the chapter house waiting my turn when a dozen roses were delivered to me. The card was a congratulations from my great-grand pledge mom who lived in California. ( I was in Illinois.) I could not believe that someone I had never met - never even heard of - would take the time and money to send a dozen roses to a girl she would probably never even meet. It was then that I truly realized that I was a part of something much bigger than myself.

AOII object (not jewelry)? The memory book that we received for initiation. It is signed with meaningful poems, songs, photos, drawings, all kinds of stuff from the actives.

AOII jewelry piece? Well, I only have 2 - my badge and my lavalier. I will go with my badge. When I was a collegian I had NO money so I had to get the most inexpensive badge available, but I still love it. It is simple, classy, and bright - just like AOII.

AOII friend ? My pledge sister Jenn, and my friend Erica. Erica is from Theta chapter at DePauw and I am from Iota at Illinois. We met in Tulsa as grad students 13 years ago. Now we each have 2 sons the same ages and they are best friends.

AOII GC friend (may have more than one!)? I am kind of new here, so I don't know you all the way you know each other. I will say AOIIGAL because I found out that she was a senior in my chapter when I was a freshman! I know her!

AOII saying? "AOII is not what you have become, it is what you have always been."