Lisa, Flame Eternal

It's always hard to hear that someone you love has unexpectedly been called to meet their maker.  Sunday morning was no different.

Lisa was, in many ways, a second mother to me.  Now I'm not gonna sit here and tell you that it was all roses, butterflies, rainbows, and unicorns.  No, we certainly had our ups and downs.

I met Lisa's daughter in the summer before my first semester of college.  We were immediate friends.  It wasn't until after formal recruitment that I met Lisa.  She scared me.

She was just so well respected, and I was for sure that she would eat my soul if I got out of line.  Honestly, that's not far from the truth.  You definitely didn't want to disappoint her.

A friend of mine posted this, and I too believe that this is how Lisa often felt about me.  But because Lisa would not back down, because she would let you know when she was disappointed, she taught me to be a better person.

Now don't get me wrong.  My mama raised me right.  It's just that in college, when I was away from my mama, I still had someone to look over my shoulder and make sure I was keeping my butt in line.

As an adult, I appreciate that now more than Lisa could possibly know.

When I started my job teaching and even when I started medical school, I didn't have to worry about cleaning up my Facebook.  Lisa's girls didn't go around putting a bunch of crap on a public forum.  I still follow those rules.

When I went to my medical school interview, I could talk about how Delta Zeta helped shaped me into a more well-rounded person so that ultimately, I can be a better physician.  I believe it goes without saying that no organization becomes great without a great leader.

Even if you hated her guts, you had to admire her.  Her enthusiasm for cheerleading, her passion for Delta Zeta, her zeal for life.

It's difficult to find the right words to say about such an influential woman.  I suppose that there is no single combination of words that could correctly express how much I admired her.

Perhaps it is most appropriate to say that she lived by the Delta Zeta creed.

To the world, she delivered temperance and insight and courage.

She crusaded for justice.

She sought the truth and defended it always.

To those whom her life touched in slight measure, she gave graciously of what was hers.

To her friends, understanding and appreciation.

To those closer ones, she loved ever steadfast.

To her mind, growth.

To herself, faith.

And she walked truly in the light of the flame.