Pryor Scrapbook Bessie Mae, 2008

April 15,2008 Dear Mom, (I guess there are only two Reginas who can use that opening!) Growing up around Reginas made me believe I already was one. So I am thankful that my freshm an year it actually came true. I want to back up to my childhood memories of Regina. The laughter, clappi ng, and finally the singing of the club song are my earliest memories because I was t oo little to stay up so late. But I wouldn't go to sleep until I heard that song. I remembe r preparations for "Rough Night" - peeling grapes for eyeballs of the dead Re gina, cooked pasta for "brains" etc. The graveyard at the old church outside of town. "As you are now, so once was I. As I am now, you soon will be. So prepare to follow me!" with three matches! The "Fly Family!" The night the new girls came to that wonderful dinner, but just after desert, the tone changed and I remember sitting next to you and wa tching you hold your hand over your mouth trying NOT to break into a smile! And that dinner... round chicken salad sandwiches covered in cream cheese (I cut ALL those s lices with the top of the coffee percolator!), lima beans, spiced tea, and that ice cream dese rt with the nuts and caramel dribbled on it!!! Then there was Formal Initiation: of course those wonderful little white cake s in the shapes of crowns with the silver candy balls at their jewels! I remember sitti ng with the pledges in your bedroom as they feverishly tried to memorize those verses in Proverbs 31. They all looked so beautiful in their long dresses. As I watched them say their verses, as they were kneeling in front of your velvet bench, I always thought they w ere talking about YOU. The verses matched what I saw you do; taking care of us, gettin g up early, sewing, cooking....being loved and praised by all around you. Oh, the outings to PJ Mountain! I loved those (except for the time I fell in th e creek in that cold water!) The chili and smores in that outdoor building. Hearing the story of Petit Jean. Daddy in his "safari hat" leading us down to the falls and back. Then there was banquet time! Once I almost burned the house down because the Reginas were burning the edges of their invitations and I wanted to do one too! It wa s always fun to see you getting ready for a banquet... an putting on your tiara! You truly were the Queen in my eyes! Very few get to experience college friends their whole lives, like I did. It was THE BEST childhood gift. Hanging out with the Reginas and their dates always made m e feel important and the girls were attentive to me and made me feel good about m yself as well. But I do remember some hard days. There was a time when you had to say " no" to your girls. Once they wanted to give the beaus red boxer shorts for Christmas. Yo u absolutely said that was inappropriate. There was a time when some of the girls called y ou "square"