It’s funny. You go to college with all kinds of expectations. You’re the ripe age of 18, naive to the world. New surroundings, kids there are from all walks of life and you have all these classes that you have to deal with. You wonder. How is this all going to work out?
Then it happens. There is a buzz on the floor of the dorm. We’re going to a smoker. A smoker? But I don’t smoke I think to myself. Don’t worry they say, we’re going to go party at the TKE house. I look puzzled and they add, it’s a frat house.
Night falls and there it is in all its glory. The TKE house with its columns lighted from hidden spotlights. A little sister named Carol welcomed me to the party, touching my arm in the process. “You’re going to love the TKE’s. Do you want a smoke?” she asked. I don’t smoke, but I’m thinking about it. And so goes the walk through the threshold that changed my life.
There were all these guys hanging out and drinking beer. The basement had the coolest thatched roof bar that I had ever seen. Beer was flowing everywhere. They couldn’t have looked happier. You could tell the friendships were strong. There was laughter, more beer, these cute girls called “little sisters”, more beer and there was a welcoming of new friendships. Everyone kept saying. Are you going to join?
I wanted in.
Next thing I know I write a check to nationals, get a pledge pin, carry a brother named “randy” for miles with a flask in my back pocket and win the coveted UC award. Things were fast, fun and unpredictable. Anticipation of big events was like a six year old facing Christmas – you just couldn’t wait to see what was waiting for you.
It’s a bond that flows through your veins. Others don’t understand, but they wish they had it. We had it. We were TKE’s and there were plenty of people that hung with us because they wanted to come along on our ride. Looking back there were a lot of special moments.
You think about all the guys that came before us, and those that came after us. Hell, I just met most of the guys that started our chapter. They still have the spirit pumping through their veins. It’s a feeling that you still see in everyone’s eyes.
I can honestly say today that my best friends are the TKEs that I shared all those moments and years together. We may not see each other every day. We may go years without talking. But when we do come together, it’s just like yesterday.
I’m a Teke for life.
I’m Paul Johnson.
My scroll number is 502.