As a child you think that your parents are invincible and the best people on earth. Then the teenage years come and the hormones take over and your view is a little more skewed. But thankfully I figured out that my parents really are some of the best people on earth and I am so thankful to have them in my life!
They have accomplished a lot in their lives and I’m sure they will do much more as the years go on. Recently, I was at a meeting and heard some of my parents peers praise their business efforts and their kindness over and over again which is such a wonderful feeling. It’s also a little stressful since I’m trying my hardest to live up to the high level of excellence that they have set! But it’s so nice when the hard work that you saw from inside the family is recognized so much outside of the family.
My junior year in college I was extremely honored to be tapped into one of the most prestigious women’s honoraries on campus at Alabama, The XXXI. This honorary is made up of a group of thirty-one women that have made significant contributions to The University and/or the state of Alabama. The group of thirty-one is made up of 18 juniors, 8 graduating seniors, 3 alumnae, 1 faculty member, and 1 summa member who is any woman from the state of Alabama. This year marks the 23rd Order of The XXXI and there have been some amazing women tapped into the society since 1989.
When nominations were requested at the beginning of the year I nominated my Mom who, I felt, has made a great impact on the North Alabama area. After graduating from Alabama she has done so much for the area by working with students, helping my Dad start and run a successful business, and serving on many boards to help strengthen the area. I felt like Mom would be a perfect alumnae member for The XXXI. I asked some of my friends and fellow XXXI members to help me write letters of recommendation for Mom and around the beginning of March I was told that she had been selected for membership.
One of the most exciting things about tapping’s for The XXXI is that they are supposed to be a secret. Although I aspired to be a member of The XXXI ever since I watched a sorority sister get tapped at dinner my freshman year, I was convinced that I had not been selected because 1) I couldn’t think of anyone who had asked me for my resume that would nominate me, 2) No one in the organization had asked me to make sure and be at the house for dinner the night of tapping’s (they tap current students who are in sororities at their houses dinner on the night of tapping’s), and 3) My parents blatantly lied to me that they were in a meeting all afternoon and so I “knew” they weren’t in town for the tapping’s and they would have been if I was going to be inducted.
So I was totally floored when I was sitting at the Alpha Chi house waiting on my meeting with our rush advisor when the Alpha Chi members of The XXXI read my name off of their tapping list. I was even more surprised when I got to the mound where tapping’s take place and my parents and Jason were there! The element of surprise has left many an inductee being tapped in workout clothes or clothes from class and the fact that they were not expecting it is part of what makes it so much fun.
So back to my Mom. 🙂 I thought my Dad knew that I had nominated Mom, after all I had gotten her resume from him, but he apparently didn’t understand what I needed the resume for so when I called him to tell him that we were going to Tuscaloosa he was confused at first but quickly jumped on board. Once he checked Mom’s schedule and confirmed that she had nothing scheduled for the day of tapping’s we started concocting our story to get Mom to town. One of our biggest hurdles is that my parents don’t really hide anything from each other and my Dad was afraid that his poker face — which isn’t that great — would give it away. So he basically avoided talking about it with Mom for an entire month!
I told Mom that I didn’t have anything going on and that Lindsey was going down to tapping’s and so I thought I’d go down too but that I needed help with Charlotte and so asked if she could come with us. She agreed and that plan got put in to place. The week before we were to leave Dad casually mentioned that he didn’t have a lot going on at work so he was just going to come with us to hang out with Charlotte.
Since I knew she was getting tapped I thought Mom understood that they would be coming to tapping’s with me and would just be extra hands with Charlotte but apparently Mom thought that I had asked them to come down and keep Charlotte at the condo! Dad tipped me off to that the morning before we left and so on the way down I mentioned that our plan would be to leave around 5 and head over to tapping’s at which point Mom said that she wasn’t dressed for it and would stay at the condo with Charlotte! It was a little touch and go but she eventually acquiesced (she looked great!).
Storms coming through the area pushed the tapping ceremony inside the Ferguson Center but that was fine with us. Mom remained clueless about the real reason that we were in town the entire day and when we arrived at the Ferg I saw a few XXXI alum members who know us who asked me quietly if Mom knew what was going on and when I said no they quickly scurried away because they didn’t want to give away the surprise.
Even walking into the Ferg with Charlotte, Mom didn’t know what was about to happen!
When we got inside I met up with Lindsey and we went into the room where they were going to tap the members and spoke with the advisor and the president. The president was very nice and she said that she was going to tap Mom so she walked out into the hallway with us. As soon as Mom saw us walking up with Meg and Meg pull out her tapping announcement, Mom figured out what was happening and started crying. I’m pretty sure during the announcement she also said how mad she was at Dad and I for letting her wear jeans but that just made it better! 🙂
Being read the announcement that she was being tapped into The XXXI
Once Mom calmed down we headed into the room where the tapping’s were to be held and enjoyed cluing Mom in to the whole charade. At this point it did start getting a little tricky with Charlotte because she had been holding Mom’s hand before Meg had come and made the announcement and then all the people she didn’t know came up and Mom and I started crying — she just got very uncomfortable with the situation and then didn’t want to leave Mom’s side. That was ok for a while….
Charlotte sat next to Mom when Meg started the tapping’s and was pretty good. She loved it when everyone clapped for each of the girls and would stop whatever she had been playing with/looking at to clap with everyone else!
After all of the student’s bio’s were read they started on the alumnae and we got to sit proudly as everyone else was clued in to how wonderful Mom is! She then went up to the front to be pinned!
Charlotte wasn’t a fan of Memma leaving her so Dad took her and they sat in the chair directly behind Mom for the rest of the presentation. After the tapping’s we took some pictures before heading out for a celebration dinner at Chuck’s!
I was so happy that Lindsey made the trip to Tuscaloosa to celebrate with us. She is such a sweet friend and was almost as excited about Mom getting in as I was when I called her! Thanks Lindsey for taking an evening to come and celebrate with us!
Overall, I was just so proud to see Mom recognized like this. She is an amazing woman and I am so thankful that I get to call her Mom. Congratulations Mom! I love you!
Mrs. Jones
April 19, 2011 at 3:41 pmThis is so sweet! What a day for your family!
Lindsey
April 19, 2011 at 4:57 pmLoved that I was able to be there for your mom’s big day! It truly is always fun to see our parents recognized for their hard work and service. Congratulations again!!
Anonymous
April 19, 2011 at 7:48 pmThanks Jenn! What an honor (and suprise)!!
Love,
Mom
Carrie
April 20, 2011 at 1:21 pmGreat recap, Jenn! And very well deserved, Cindy! You looked great, by the way!