Angelos Spring 2012 : Page 37
mystory for our Epsilon silver screen” the of You can find up as “stars We dressed class dance. from left, 1997 new-member row, second back Chi-Baylor in the whose death Barretto Even) our KD sister me (Gina Middleton, row from the Gutierrez the third in and Pilar shown story, is inspired this from right. bottom, second everything else we have faced, we do not have to cope with this loss alone, and that’s good because it hurts. It feels like a hole has been opened in my heart. But, we have each other. We have our collected memories to share and help us heal. We have all of our pictures of our lost sister and of us. She will live on in all of our hearts, and her children will know the amazing and unique person she was when she was younger because we will share that with them. In resurrecting the old pictures, memories and jokes, we have the opportunity to recapture some of our old shininess. Perhaps that is Pilar’s legacy to us, her fi nal gift as a sister: the reminder of the girls we once were and how important we all are to each other. No, I wasn’t “paying for friends.” I was making an investment in my future. I was pledging to take the time to become the woman I am supposed to be. I had the privilege of spending large amounts of time with brilliant, strong, amazing women like Pilar with her love of language, travel and fashion, and her sly sense of humor. I had the blessing of pledging to them my friendship for life and receiving their friendship in turn. I have the continued joy of sharing their lives with them while we can. I have the honor of celebrating their memories when they leave us. Th at is what it has meant for me to be Greek. Th at is what it means to me every day to be a Kappa Delta. “To my sisters: I love you and have never been more proud to be your sister. AOT.” Here we are posing for a “family portrait” taken in the late top to bottom: ’90s. From Michelle Stephens Walker, Me (Gina Barretto Marchelle Even), Church Peters Blankenship (left), Jeanette Severson (right) and Catherine White Gruetzner. Our “family” celebrates with Marchelle Church on her wedding Peters day. From left: Jeanette Blankenship Severson, Marchelle, Me (Gina Barretto Michelle Stephens Even) and Walker. kappadelta.org Spring 2012 | 37
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