News and Happy Thanksgiving

Hey sisters!
Guess what? I just got e-mail from the Arrow and they're doing a story about our reunion and the BLOG. They really wanted a picture and even though I thought the one at the pool was the best I knew you would kill me if I sent it so I sent the one of all of us in the lodge right after we got back from the pool. I realize that with no make-up and two hours of sweat we weren't at our best, but that was the only one with the whole group!!! and the editor who looked at the blog really wanted that one.

OK. Now here's some news: Lynn Field's daughter pledged Pi Phi and Julie Barnard and Lynn attended her initiation this Fall. Barbie Herzig has just agreed to go on House Corp. Barb and I had lunch in Enid when I was there for a 211 meeting. Susan Dornblaser has been facing a very challenging time relocating her parents to an assisted living center after more than 30 years in the same home. She, Julie B and I are avid readers of a New York Times blog on caring for your parents. Ginny's son and daughter-in-law just had twins and Grandma Ginny is in heaven sending out adorable pics. Debbie Forshee has added a grandson, Brody and is learning that boys are different after raising daughters and having one granddaughter. Debbie broke an ankle this Fall but is out of the cast. Cissie's family has had some health challenges that have had she and Ron spending more time than they planned in Dallas instead of Angel Fire. Not much to report from the ranch: no broken bones at the moment and still staying way too busy helping with United Way, 211, the Therapeutic Riding Center, the Emeriti Association and OSU's NCAA Recertification plus a little writing on disability issues.

It's really time for some of you to write in and bring us up to date.

Happy Thanksgiving and Go Pokes! What a year our team has had.

Also if you get a chance, check out OSUGreekCentennial.blogspot.com
Greek Life at OSU is planning a really neat monument to 100 years of Greeks on campus and you can read all about it on their blog. (OK, I helped with that one too)

Love
Lea Anne

Blog test from Peggy

I'm testing first before I blog...so far unsuccessful.
Peggy

How to Post

Hi sisters
We're getting great comments and interesting family news in the comments on our blog but everyone is having a hard time adding a post with pictures, etc.

Here's what you do: first, sign in. You don't have to have a g-mail account, I've added your usual e-mail address to the author's list, but you will need to register and choose a password. After you sign in, you'll come to a page where you can choose "ADD A POST" it has a little green plus sign on the left hand side of the page. (NOT ADD OR START A BLOG!! at the top of the page) Then you just type in the box and use the symbols to add pictures or change fonts, etc. Good luck!

Here's an exciting update from the July 25-27 Reunion:
You can watch the pics I have in a slide show!

OSU Pi Phi's 1970

Camp Pi Phi
2008
On July 25, members of the Oklahoma Beta pledge class of 1970 met at Post Oak Lodge near Tulsa for a weekend retreat for the first time since a reunion in 1983.

Lea Anne's first entry: July 30, 2008

What a wonderful time we had! First of all, the Post Oak Lodge could not have been a more perfect spot for the event. We had our very own lodge with private "hotel" rooms surrounding a Great Room. Nine OSU Pi Phi's moved in and two others dropped in so we had the perfect sized group to get re-acquainted.

Friday night, after a barbeque dinner, we talked and talked....38 years gave us a lot of catching up to do. We just went around the circle and to a woman were amazed at the incredible human beings our sisters have become.....so accomplished and strong and funny and resiliant. Life leaves none of us untouched.

I must confess, I went overboard in making angels and signs and cards and gift bags for the event. It felt a little like rush all over again (complete with singing and clapping each new arrival into the room) But everyone else went overboard as well. Next time we'll plan a little better and do a dirty santa gift instead of 12 of everything. But all the presents did make it feel pretty special and we deserved it!

I feel so fortunate to be around to help pull the event together. I was paralyzed from the chest down in a car accident in 2000. Here's the Pi Phi connection: a pledge sister's son was one of the students who held a tarp over me until the ambulance came. Another sister met the ambulance. Another one stayed at the hospital the whole time I was in intensive care and yet another brought pillows to the hopital crew and started an "Angel Hotline" to summon support during my ordeal. Other sisters "kidnapped" me from rehab to go to lunch. All in all, the Pi Phi connection helped put me on the road back to life and I was thrilled to get a chance to say "thanks!"

Besides talking, we spent the weekend eating (and eating and eating). We did some swimming and some tie dyeing and generally had a wonderful time!

Many have had daughters in the house. (It's just not the same...We're SOOO lucky we were there when we were) Several of us have parents who are failing or already gone. Nearly all have grandchildren and think it's the best thing ever!!! A few have been married 35 plus years. Some of us...not so long.

Everyone has done AMAZING things that include travel all around the world. Just listening was great!

I live on a horse ranch (Quarter Horses for cutting, sorting roping, etc) just west of Stillwater and do volunteer marketing for non-profits. I have a step-daughter and son and three granddaughters aged 11, 4 and 2. Although I'm on disability retirement, I still do occasional projects at the University and spend ALOT of time on the computer.