15 Years...

It's been well over a year… and I haven't been compelled to blog. Not sure why… I guess it's just life happening. It's not like I haven't had PLENTY on my mind... plenty of new and wonderful things going on in my life... a few extra craptacular things happened as well... but I figured at some point something would happen to inspire me to mosey on over to this here blog and post something.

Today is April 3. 2013.  Fifteen years ago, my big sister, Deanna, became a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.  Those who knew Deanna, know that after her family and close friends? ...there was nothing she loved more than her beloved sorority.  I'm not gonna lie… I didn't get it.  I didn't get it when Kimberly pledged in 1992, and I still didn't get it when Deanna pledged in 1998.  My connection to sororities and pledging was largely wrapped up in the memories of seeing Kimberly pledge at Tuskegee. She was tired a lot. I would fill late night requests for panty hose and peanut butter & jelly sandwiches to be left at her house for her when she finally got home from long days and late nights. But the night I got the call that her line was "crossing"… she was so incredibly happy that I forgot about all the pain I perceived her to be in during that time. Deanna's pledging experience was different than Kimberly's. But I was there on April 3, 1998, when she officially crossed over into Delta-Land. I remembered that same happy, tear-stained face that I had witnessed 6 years earlier on Kimberly.

Delta was their thing… Deanna & Kimberly's thing… sometimes I thought maybe I was missing out on some sisterly bonding by not being a Delta as well, but we had our own little sorority… DKD: Deanna Kimberly Darlene. LOL! Very exclusive!

"It's a DKD thang... you wouldn't understand!"

Whenever the Inglewood Alumnae chapter of DST would have a line, Deanna would call me…

Riiiing!
Me: Hey, Skleeanna! (that's what I called her)
Dee: Guess whaaaaat? Inglewood Alumnae is having a line!
Me: Oh girl… I told you the day I decide to pledge, you will be the FIRST to know. Hell, you might know before I do! Haaaaa!
Dee: Awww Pookie… Delta NEEDS you!
Me:  Guuuuurl, Delta doesn't need me… because Delta has YOU!

Seriously… we had this conversation ALL THE TIME. But I didn't get it.  And at that point, my idea of a Delta was Deanna (aka "Super Delta"… aka "Delta on Fire"), and I figured I'd need to love Delta like that to pledge.  And I didn't… because I really didn't get it.

You want to know when I "got it" for the first time?

When I walked into New Mercies Christian Church on December 8, 2012… for Deanna's Omega Omega memorial service... When I saw the ocean of Deltas dressed in black to formally say goodbye to their soror… their sister. Easily 400+ women there for my sister… their sister.  Something clicked in my head… "Hmmm... this is more than just a club… these women really, really love my sister."  I sat on the front row of chairs with my dad to the left of me and an empty chair to the right of me that held a box of Kleenex. My mom was next to my dad, and I believe Kimberly was next to her. On the row behind us? Kimberly's line sisters… many of whom had just spent time and money coming to homecoming for their line's 20th anniversary. Falona flew in from Denver. Kimberly's "Big Girls" were there… there to support their line sister… there to say goodbye to their soror… their sister. It was all so eye-opening to me… the one thing that would make me start to understand Deanna & Kimberly's love for Delta was losing the most incredible Delta I knew. Stacey flew in from Cleveland… Jackie Brown came from Philly… Kim Barnette came from DC… Deanna's best friend, Deborah, came from California.  These Deltas… Deanna's friends… Deanna's sorors... Deanna's sisters, came from near and far to say goodbye. 

At one point, someone was singing… and my dad and I kinda lost it. Before I could even reach for a new piece of tissue, Kimberly's line sister, Marrakesha, was by my side with her arm around me. And she never left. You see… MY sisters have all of these "sisters"… who are kind of like my big sisters as well. Since we lost Deanna, I have been in contact with so many of her sorority sisters all across the country.  Wow… these women LOVE my sister. And that makes me feel good.

So today… April 3, 2013… I'm a bit melancholy. Sad that my sister isn't here to celebrate her 15 year anniversary with her beloved Deltas.  Sad that I can't call & wish her well today. Sad that I can't ask her what kind of trouble she and her line sister, Kimberley, are getting into tonight.  Sad that she isn't here to celebrate the centennial all year with her beloved Deltas… she was so looking forward to all of this.  I'm sad right now… but I will celebrate for her… and I will smile, laugh & be happy.  I will celebrate my sister-- line name: Set it Off (how perfect is that name? LOL!) and I will celebrate her line sisters (The 13 Stages of Evolution) as I wish them a happy 15 year Deltaversary.

The 13 Stages of Evolution

#7 Jagged Edge (Kimberley) and #3 Set It Off (Deanna)

Line Sisters: Deanna, Erica & Kimberley

If you're a member of a sorority or a fraternity… or any group/club… spend some time today thinking of how you can recommit yourself to your organization. Deanna would like that.

Happy Deltaversary, Sissy.

I love and miss you more than words can express...

Your baby sis,
Pookie

Lucky Girl....

Alright... so this isn't really going to be about working out... I'm just in a mood right now... a great mood.  I have a core of wonderful friends, which is truly a blessing.  But even more so, I was blessed with a built in crew.  I was born into an exclusive club... the 4th and final member of the Draper Kids.  I know that there are three people on this planet Earth who share a bond with me.  No one else in the world knows what it's like to be the child of Tony & Cheryl Draper except Kimberly, William & Deanna (with me, above).  No one else knows how wonderful it is to be the child of Tony & Cheryl... except the four of us.  I feel like the luckiest girl in the world to be approaching 39 years of age, and I genuinely LIKE my three grown siblings.  I think if a parent can raise 4 distinctly different children who grow up and still like each other, that's a success.  LOL.

I could go on and on and on about them... We're VERY close... we grew up VERY close... Will was born in Jan '67, Deanna in Aug '68, Kimberly in Sept '70 & I came along in July '71.  So my parents had 4 kids in less than 5 years... like I said, we were packed together, and I had a built in posse from day one.  We're not all sunshine & roses.... we have our differences every now & then.  Something interesting is that I can not ever remember having a fall out with any one of them (outside of a childhood tussle over toys or Kimberly being on my side of the room).  As a teenager, college student, adult... I've never had any issues with the three of them that I can remember.  Perhaps it's my personality... and it may have something to do with the fact that I live in California & they all live in Atlanta.  At the same time, I can say that I am equally close to all three of them.  I have a different & special relationship with each of them.  As the Draper Kid who is out of state, I always want to feel like I'm not missing out, so it's important for me to communicate with them as often as possible.  In a seven day week, I may talk to Kimberly 5 days (she likes to talk on the phone)... Deanna & I talk on the phone & through Facebook.... Will & I don't talk on the phone much, but we generally talk once a week either through Facebook, text or the phone.  

I guess what's prompting all this sibling talk right now is the sister a step above me.  Kimberly is a little over ten months older than I am, so we grew up side by side.  A grade apart (except when I skipped first grade & did second & third grade with her... that's a whole different blog post... LOL!) 

One thing I love about Kimberly is how outgoing she is.  Actually, all three of my siblings are more outgoing than I am.  Maybe that has something to do with why I've never clashed with any of them... Hmmm...  this is like a therapy session...  Okay, I digress...  Kimberly was always in drama club, loved to perform... I have never wanted that... outside of cheerleading, I pretty much have been content to stay in the background.  I'm the planner.  I like to make a spreadsheet, make sure everything is running smoothly, check off my To Do List.... so I've always been drawn to people who are opposite of me.  I love the person who is the life of the party, because I'm not like that... and I need that person to draw me out of my shell.  My best friends, Stacy & Sharon, are both very outgoing... Claudine, my friend and trainer?  She's always the first person to get the party started... she's good to get me out of the house to have some fun.  Kimberly? She's always enjoyed the spotlight... not in a vain way, but she has always been comfortable in that role.  She was Miss Morningside in high school, Miss Tuskegee in college, in school plays, etc.  And I've always been her biggest cheerleader & fan, along with the rest of our family.

Kimberly is a doctor in Atlanta (www.gradydoctor.blogspot.com) who does a weekly segment on the Fox 5 morning news called "Good Day Atlanta Housecall".  I am able to watch it on line every Wednesday, and she does a great job.  That gig led to two appearances on the Dr. Oz show... which was, in the words of her two boys, Isaiah & Zachary.... AWESOME!  To see my sister on national television, holding her own next to Dr. Oz was just.... really there are no words to explain how proud I was of her.  For her to marry the doctor in her with the performer in her is completely natural... Duh, of course Kimberly belongs on television.  It only makes sense!

On Sunday, we got a text from Kimberly saying that she was on her way to CNN to do a segment about Manute Bol's passing.... and they even sent a car for her!

Hold up... did you say CNN... as in CNN CNN???  Like, the news network that everyone all over EVERYWHERE watches???  My sister??? The one who I shared a room with growing up??? on CNN???  Stop the presses!!!  And she knocked it out of the PARK!  Yes, I'm biased... I won't lie... but seriously, she was incredible.  Let me find a thesaurus, because proud just doesn't cut it... like... what is way, way, waaaaay above proud?  That's what I was... hell, I still am.

Above is a video I made of her appearance... CNN.com did not post the video (yet?), so I had to do it old school to share with everyone.  My sister on CNN!  Shutchomouf!  LOL!  I'm still floating.  One thing about the Draper family is that we celebrate each other's successes... so this is a homerun for our entire family.  The sky is the limit for her, and I can't wait to see what God has in store for her next!

Biz & Miz

Stay tuned... Dr. Kimberly Manning is going to be a household name one day... you just wait and see.  Yep, my little-big sister... We've already claimed it!  

I love you, Miz!