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So the night for Preferential had finally come and I had decided to accept the invitations of the two groups which had been hanging in there with me since the prior spring semester. Cleopatra, by the way, had not invited me to their pref party, which was no surprise to me.
I had two possible dresses to wear, a pretty standard LBD to wear with pearls and a very pale icy pink one with trapunto detailing on the bodice. Both were flattering and good with my coloring. I decided to wear the pink dress as I liked it better, and it was more distinctive. AND it was fitted at the waist! We were all dressed to the nines, actives and rushees alike.
The Bianca party was lovely and ethereal with many of the actives dressed accordingly. One of the members was playing the harp throughout the party and the singing was soft and beautiful in a very dim room. At the end the actives made two files with an aisle between them where each of us prospective members was walked down by our presenting member to the president where we received a flower, then walked back to our place. My presenter was of course Elizabeth, who had been with me every step of the way for many months now. Once back in our position, she leaned close to me and whispered in my ear an oral bid!!! She had said, "There's not a single woman in this room who wouldn't love to be your sister!" Panhellenic of course had told us several times that oral bids were strictly against the rules, and that if we received one at any time, we should pay no attention whatsoever to it. I was really taken off-guard, stunned, and said "Thank you" but nothing more.
I think I was able to get my Bianca flower into my purse and went off to the Portia party, which was held in the beautiful home of an alum. I don't remember any theme for this party, heavenly or otherwise, other than a beautiful centerpiece on the dining room table with the Portia Greek letters incorporated into the design. And a second very similar one just outside floating in the swimming pool surrounded by floating candles. Very lovely understated elegance. And the home was beautifully furnished with what appeared to be antique family furniture pieces and some antique silver serving pieces.. Now my mother was from a very old Virginia family and my father from an almost equally old New Jersey family, so I was quite familiar with family pieces being incorporated into the decor of a home. I was wearing once again for luck the narrow gold cuff bracelet that had belonged to my great-grandmother and given her as a girl. Tradition was speaking to me. The lighting was such that I could clearly see the other prospects and by now recognized many. As I also had at the Bianca party with a fair amount of overlap. The formal part of the party was simple but meaningful. And each of us was given a flower tied with ribbons of Portia's colors but in a more spontaneous way without ceremony right before we all left. My flower was given me by none other than the President who had commented on my "pregnancy dress"! But she seemed very sincere. As did all the other actives. NO oral bid!
Both parties and ceremonies were very meaningful and moving, but I saw no tears flowing! Perhaps a sign of the times as I think we were more publicly reserved back then.
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