"A Memoir"
When I was in college at the University of Richmond and going through hell week at my fraternity, Phi Gamma Delta, those of us being hazed were put through some paces. For example, they would tie a raw oyster to a string, get us to swallow it, then pull it back up. Also we were made to sit naked on a big block of ice with a cherry on it and pick up the cherry with our rear ends.
Then we were blindfolded one night, driven out of Richmond, finally let out with no money about 25 miles from town, and told to find our way back. Two of us looked at the sky to see the lights of Richmond in the distance and headed in that general direction. Before long we met two more comrades and walked along together. It was FREEZING!
We saw a run down motel by the side of the road and swiped some wood to use for kindling and make a fire. We were huddled around our fire by the side of the road when the motel owner came out raising hell. We put our fire on a plank and started to run down the road with it. Pretty soon we heard a gun go off. The man was shooting at us with bird shot. We felt some of the shot sprinkle up against our backs. What fun.
We walked all night that night and finally made it to a White Tower restaurant at the edge of Richmond. At the restaurant, we borrowed some money and took a bus back to the University.
I voted against hazing the next year, and we put an end to it. But I do have to say it left me with SOME memories.
jake wrote
A little bonus story. I didn't realize Bob was going to be adding to the body of work. It would be great to continue to get these. We'll see. I don't want to put any pressure on him to do it, but I do want him to know that I appreciate it.
Posted on Mon, May 19, 2008