COUNTDOWN TO THE CENTENNIAL CONVENTION!

In just a few short days, Washington D.C. will literally be blanketed with beautiful, bold, singing, celebrating, laughing and loving women with a shared bond: Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Yes! After much anticipation, the Centennial Convention for our beloved sisterhood is almost here.

Sigh.

Okay. For those who've been reading here forever or for those who have a lot of cultural similarities to me, you are fully aware of what this means. But for those who still get confused, here's a quick synopsis:

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated is one of nine historically African-American Greek Letter Organizations and happens to be the same sorority into which both Deanna and I pledged. Now. Unlike a lot of other fraternities and sororities (that include mostly non-minorities for example) these predominantly black organizations come with an expectation that your commitment is for a lifetime. Meaning, you pay dues (financially and through your efforts) for life.

College grads are expected to join an alumnae or alumni chapter and continue giving back to the community through their respective sorority or fraternity. This explains why you see fifty year old black men and women in Greek letters on their shirts and car tags.

Delta Sigma Theta was founded on January 13, 1913 on the campus of Howard University in Washington D.C. I was fortunate enough to be right there on Howard's campus when the clock struck midnight exactly 100 years later. It was an AMAZING experience. You can read about that epic weekend here.

Matter of fact, I just reread and re-experienced it for kicks. 

Every other summer, our organizations hold a national convention in a different city. Because this is the year of our centennial, it was, of course, fitting to go back to where it all began--Washington D.C.! Of all of the living Delta women I know (and I know many) I can literally only think of a few that are not going to be in the Nation's capitol for this historic convention. Crazy, right?

So that means that there's going to be a CRAP-TON of Delta girls descending on D.C., ya heard?!

And.

Of all the Delta women I have ever known, there is not one that could have possibly been more excited about it than my sister Deanna. She was SO excited. So excited, in fact, that she even made a piggy bank to save her coins up in preparation.

 Only Deanna!

Yeah. It's kind of bittersweet. But you know? We plan to make it sweet. Really, really sweet.

And so. . . .in time for the Centennial Celebration. . . .and for Deanna . . . . I'm calling all Deltas to the floor!

We got some here but we need some more!

And let me just say this:

Delta Sigma Theta for me has been more than a sisterhood. She has been a friend. A soft place to land. A safe place to keep my secrets. A hand to hold. A song on my lips. A pep in my step. An expectation for me to live up to. A reason to stand to my feet and applaud. And always, always hands that are always ready to touch and agree and of course to lift me when I'm down. I have no idea what it's like to belong to any other sorority. But it is my hope that every other person I know has something in their life that represents all that Delta has represented to me and so many others.

And especially? Delta was something I shared with DEANNA. And that? That has made me cherish this bond all the more.

The time has finally arrived. And I assure you. . . . . I am going to celebrate all 100 years of our illustrious sorority for me and for Dee. My goal is to be hoarse by the end of the weekend. Because I GUARANTEE that she would have been.

Ha ha ha.

Can I just say this? If I weren't a Delta girl. . . .

I sure would wish I were.

Now. Take all this joy and multiply it by a few hundred thousand.

It's about to be SO. ON. And let me tell you. . .me? I'm about to be OWT. Like a NEO.

me as a neophyte Delta on the night I crossed.

What?!! What!!!

Leh-go!! 

***
Happy Centennial Week. Who's going? Who's hyped? Who's gonna lose their voice?! MEEE!!!!

The luckiest of the Delta girls marry Omega men. . . .BEST. THING. EVER. (Just sayin'!)