Especially when it's football season.
Russell and I try to get to one UVA football game a season, but last year we didn't make it. That made this year's trip all the more anticipated. Plus, it was my Dad's fraternity's 100 year anniversary on grounds. Why do I care about that, you might wonder?
Because my dad has been an integral part of my UVA experience. I grew up going to football games and tailgates (back when you didn't have to donate a bazillion dollars a year to get a parking space), basketball, lacrosse, and other sports games with him. I used to visit him at the law school where he worked sometimes, or run around the Lawn with him on sunny days after eating a picnic. I think I was in high school before I realized that the UVA fight song, sung to the tune of Auld Lang Syne, wasn't an original composition. (Just ask my kids, it's one of the few songs I know all the words to and has lulled them to sleep in their beds many a time.)
But back to the fraternity. Most of my dad's best friends, who were then our best family friends, came from his fraternity. For years and years, I've gone to the party at his fraternity house before football games to be with my dad and his Theta Chi family, even though I don't know a single brother my age there. Yes, there have been many a strange glance directed our way from the brothers, wondering what those "young girls" were doing hanging with the" old guys" every year.
Thank you to Diane Lewis for several of the photos at the party below.
So it was with a happy and proud heart that we headed to his house for the festivities this year. The house just completed an amazing renovation (and if you've ever been in a UVA frat house, you will be amazed). I mean, hooks for coats and women's rooms in the party space? Heaven.
The pre-game party was cold and early (9 AM). The kids ran around a bit, but their favorite spot was the pool table or the buffet.
I caught up with old friends. Below are Margaret and Charlie Faulkner, Grady Lewis, and my Dad.
Anson took a break to guard the kegs. Very important job.
Here's a shot of my Dad talking to Bill Sullivan in the new Willie Alexander Room.
This room is particularly special, because it commemorates a man my father has long supported and loved. He was an African-American man who worked at the fraternity for years, and was like a father to many of the men. My Dad wrote the following words that are now hanging in the room:
On another note, we then headed to the game to watch UVA get crushed. Superbly crushed. Needless to say, we didn't stay to the end of the game. Little did we know, Charlotte was in the beginnings of a terrible flu. Must be why she was so mellow. :)
This was the kids at halftime. Ah, the joys of technology.
Later that night, Dad's friends the Johnstons hosted a wonderful buffet dinner at their house. It was like going home, literally. They live not far from where I grew up (Dad lives in a different part of town now), so being in their house and looking out at the backyard was like being a kid again. Speaking of kids, I got to meet up with Kerry Lewis, the daughter of one of Dad's fraternity brothers, whom I hadn't seen in ages.
We also took a quick jaunt to Oakhurst Circle, the site of our first home together (sort of). During Russell's last year of medical school, we lived together for the first time in the house you see below. I do believe it hasn't been painted since. We planned our wedding there, had a party to celebrate Russell becoming an American citizen, and enjoyed his graduation from medical school and our wedding before jetting off on our honeymoon.
I hope I've turned my tarheel-born children into Wahoos. What do you think? Now on to my 20th reunion plans. Yep, Russell and I graduated UVA in 1994, so it's coming up. Can't wait.
1 comment:
What a great piece, Morg. I literally almost started crying when reading what Dad wrote about Willie. I hadn't seen that. Not a true Wahoo, but I love the memories that we have growing up going to games and Dad's fraternity house.
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