DIY

Lambda Omicron Lambda

Jeanna GLeave a comment

I didn’t know much about sororities before entering college, but I always assumed they weren’t for me. I had some idea that they were exclusionary on purpose and that they were for girly girls, and I was neither of those things. But as my time in college went on, I realized there were benefits to being in a sorority that I was missing out on. For one, they got to be involved in homecoming and other big events, just because they were a sorority. But the biggest thing was that they were a group of friends, and they had each other when they needed each other. So, for a number of years after college, I regretted not pledging.

But, like I usually do, I found a solution; I joined a sisterhood. We’re not an official sorority, but we have a lot of similar characteristics. I basically had to pledge and get voted in. Our “founder” reached out to me and asked if I wanted to meet up for a play date. That went well, so she introduced me to our “treasurer.” I passed that interview, so I was invited on a big trip, where I was essentially hazed for the weekend, but I survived and made the cut. There’s a core group of us, and we all rotate through positions, like social, public relations, and recruitment chairs.

Aside from the technicalities, the best similarity is that we are a group of friends who support each other. We share our ups and downs together. We travel, celebrate, and adventure together. We also cry, complain, and do nothing together. But the best thing about us is that we’re always laughing together, sometimes at each other, but usually with each other. There’s nothing we can’t turn into a joke, and that makes living this crazy life tolerable.

We’ve referred to ourselves as a tribe, posse, core, mountain bitches, lake-lovin’ ladies, winos, and hockey hoes. None of them know that I also think of our group like it’s a sorority, so maybe I’ll just surprise them with t-shirts one day. I’ll get the Greek letters Λ Ο Λ printed on them (that’s LOL in English).

Coffeehouse Fill

Jeanna G3 Comments

Many themes cross my mind when I think of high school, but one of the more prominent ones is what I consider the heyday of coffeehouses. Of course it was not the most popular time in the existence of coffeehouses, but in my world, it was.

The shows I watched were Friends, Seinfeld, and Frasier. Each of those shows featured a coffeehouse, cafe, or coffeeshop. And yes, there’s a difference between the three. But what they all have in common is, they weren’t the kind of place you’d drive up to and get your order from a window. Instead, you’d saunter in, order, and hangout.

What was also popular in my circle in high school was learning to play the guitar, or some other instrument that was good for a band. This went hand-in-hand with the popularity of coffeehouses when it came to open-mic nights. The two, together, were a match made in heaven. It helps that my high school sweetheart is who I’d go watch sing and play.

I loved the atmosphere of a coffeehouse back then. The aromas, the lighting, the local artwork. People sat to chat…together. They’d order their giant mugs of cafe au lait, and talk, face-to-face in a non-virtual realm, about whatever came to mind. There weren’t any zooms or smart phones getting in the way of genuine, 3-D interaction. I loved the sounds of the milk steamer, cups to saucers, quiet conversations, and coffeehouse music.

The ironic aspect of this story is that I didn’t drink coffee when I frequented coffeehouses. Now I can’t seem to live without it, and I haven’t been to coffeehouses in decades. When I was in college, I literally rolled pennies to be able to afford what I needed. That had a huge impact on how I spend money these days. Buying a cup of coffee is a treat, not a daily expense. I didn’t actually start drinking coffee until I was 27, and my job as an office manager involved making coffee for the staff. The hazelnut smelled too good to not try. And try again. And try a few more times after that. A couple of stints later, I was a barista for Seattle’s Best at a Borders Bookstore. I loved it, mainly for the organic, fair trade no. 4 with caramel, and my lovely co-worker, Katie. I also loved being immersed in the scents of fresh-brewed coffee and brand new books. Since the bookstore closed, I haven’t had my coffeehouse fill. Maybe I should open my own coffeehouse? That’s probably an idea I should let steep for awhile. In the meantime, I can play pretend at home.

My Coffeehouse

To create my own coffeehouse, I ordered an espresso maker to add to my two drip pots. I buy espresso ground coffee from a local company, and use different flavors of Torani syrup to add sweetness. I’ve learned how tasty honey is in a cold brew, so I buy local liquid gold from the general store. My eclectic mug collection adds some personality. To top it all off, I made myself a Spotify playlist with artists like Natalie Merchant, Des’ree, Indigo Girls, U2, and Putomayo to help set the mood. Now I just need to learn the guitar and gather an audience. For now I think I’ll just sip on my brews and type out my thoughts.