Until I was about 6, my parents, brothers, and I lived with my grandparents in Chicago. My best friend then was named Eileen. Her father was really into home movies and he always shot a lot of film. Eileen gave me a stuffed owl for my 5th birthday. Her family eventually moved to a northern suburb, my family moved to the southern suburbs. We lost touch, but I kept my Owl.
Cut to move-in day at WIU. Mom, Dad & I are stuffing our faces at Wendys when I hear someone squeal, "Nancy?!" My mom looks up and hugs this woman...Eileen's mom. Our dads shake hands, and our moms look at each other and her mom says, "Don't you two remember, you used to play in the sandbox together?" We both shook our heads. Then my mom says, "Eileen gave you your owl." Still didn't remember her, but I thanked her again for the owl.
I rushed (it was rush back then) in the fall and joined Chi Omega. She rushed in the spring and joined Chi O as well. I was her secret sister. We kept telling everyone we went way back, and we became known as the "Sandbox Buddies"
Eileen wound up running our Senior Sendoff. After all of the wills were read, she dims the lightsand turns on the tv. Her father had transferred some of the old Super 8 movies onto VHS, and our Chapter sisters got to see Eileen and I as 4-year olds at the park. Too cute!
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“Children will not remember you for the material things you provided but for the feeling that you cherished them.” -Anonymous
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