If I had my copy of "Christmas Tapestery" with me at home, I would post the opening line which is one of my favorites. Basically it addresses that there are no coincedences in life, but rather every thing is perfectly orchestrated by God. And, I absolutely LOVE those moments....the ones that were just meant to happen.
On our final stop of the day, I encouraged Ron that we should drive through Coastal Carolina's campus and look for the Chad Beatty Memorial. Chad was Ron's little brother in Pi Kappa Phi and he transferred to Coastal where he started the Pi Kapp chapter there. While I was pregnant with Clay, Chad was killed in an accident. Several years ago the chapter began the process of creating a memorial for him and each February they hold a service. We've not been because, well, that is just how Ron has dealt with Chad's death. But, he has stayed in contact with the chapter over the years.
Well, we drove into campus and got out to walk around for a while and take some pictures. But, even after asking several students, no luck on finding the memorial. As we headed back to the car, I encouraged Ron to stop in the student center and see if they had an information desk. They did, but the guy didn't know anything about a memorial. We were heading out the door, when I told Ron to stick his head in the student lounge and see if anyone had on a Pi Kapp shirt. He was hesitant, so I peeked in and lo and behold there sat a guy in a jersey! Ron went in and went over to the guy and as it turned out ALL of the guys were Pi Kapps in there to watch football together! Ron explained that he was Chad's big brother and chatted with the guys for a while. They were so nice and welcoming...even inviting us to stay for pizza.
On our final stop of the day, I encouraged Ron that we should drive through Coastal Carolina's campus and look for the Chad Beatty Memorial. Chad was Ron's little brother in Pi Kappa Phi and he transferred to Coastal where he started the Pi Kapp chapter there. While I was pregnant with Clay, Chad was killed in an accident. Several years ago the chapter began the process of creating a memorial for him and each February they hold a service. We've not been because, well, that is just how Ron has dealt with Chad's death. But, he has stayed in contact with the chapter over the years.
Well, we drove into campus and got out to walk around for a while and take some pictures. But, even after asking several students, no luck on finding the memorial. As we headed back to the car, I encouraged Ron to stop in the student center and see if they had an information desk. They did, but the guy didn't know anything about a memorial. We were heading out the door, when I told Ron to stick his head in the student lounge and see if anyone had on a Pi Kapp shirt. He was hesitant, so I peeked in and lo and behold there sat a guy in a jersey! Ron went in and went over to the guy and as it turned out ALL of the guys were Pi Kapps in there to watch football together! Ron explained that he was Chad's big brother and chatted with the guys for a while. They were so nice and welcoming...even inviting us to stay for pizza.
The crazy thing was that they were absolutely amazed we found them and that they were even there. The time was normally meeting time (held in an upstairs room where we would never have seen them), but they had cancelled to meet for the game instead. And, they were supposed to watch the game at a brother's house and then opted instead to be in the student center. Isn't that amazing?!?! The turn of events that led for them and us to be in that place at that time!
They were very nice young men and I've met Pi Kapps from a multitude of colleges over the years and I am always impressed when they are as polite and welcoming as these were. We hear so many negative things about college students and greeks in particular that I just love the ones that prove people wrong. Moments like that make me proud to be greek and be married to a greek!
We're looking forward to going back in February for the memorial service this year. As it turns out we will already be there that weekend for a conference, so, again, no coincedence, just perfect timing.
As for the memorial, the school recently dedicated a clock tower and doesn't want two on campups, so they are reevaluating what to do....hopefully in a few years we'll go back to see the final result!
One day, my boys will also be Pi Kapps and hopefully they will remember moments like this!
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