Phi-Tau 200

[Ottor 246]

Alumni of Phi-Tau Zeta at Shippensburg University (PA) held their somewhat-annual Phi-Tau 200 on April 12. The 200 is so named because it is primarily a get-together of brothers with zeta numbers between 200 and 299 (i.e. brothers initiated between the late '80s and mid 90s.)

Some brothers got together for a round of golf on Saturday afternoon, then all gathered in the bar of the Shippen Place Hotel for drinks before dinner. Once we were all assembled, we headed off to Knute's Pub, a local eatery for dinner. "Table for 12...separate checks, please."

After dinner, those who were able squeezed back into the jackets and sweatshirts we'd saved from college, collected our Maxie's mugs and headed off to Maxie's tavern - the place we'd spent countless evenings during our undergraduate days. Not much changes around Maxie's, so going back is kind of like going through a time warp. So for about four hours, we gathered around our old table (yes, it's still he same table) and relived some of the best times in our lives.

A little after midnight, guys started drifting off in different directions. Some went to other local establishments. Others went back to a local alumnus' house for a 2-1/2 hour guitar jam that left at least one with a case of laryngitis the next day.

In the morning, those who hadn't already left gathered for breakfast at Select Family Restaurant, another favorite eatery. "Table for eight...separate checks, please." Then, we said our "good-byes" and our "we-should-do-this-more-oftens" and headed back to the present day.

It's hard to explain to non-Lambda Chis the bond we share. I mean, how many other people have friends so close that they greet them with a hug? I get back together with these guys, and no matter how long it's been, it feels like we saw each other yesterday. We call each other "brother," but are we really?

You're damn right we are.

In ZAX,
Mark Brenneman
AKA "Ottor"
Phi-Tau Zeta #246