The Kassel Family Project Life 365

I am never quite sure what kind of swag we will come home with from a Sigma Chi Grand Chapter.  It is different every time!

It was an amazing trip – 2,600 miles in the truck, meeting Punxsutawney Phil, a great Sigma Chi Grand Chapter spent with great friends, being reminded that I cannot drink like a college student anymore, Andy’s induction into the Order of Constantine, driving to Brooklyn to visit the gravesite of a Sigma Chi Founder – William Lewis Lockwood, and time with my family.  It doesn’t get any better than that.  Now, to unpack…

Today, we are headed home.  We stopped in Brooklyn, New York, to see the gravesite and monument of William Lewis Lockwood, one of Sigma Chi’s seven founders, at Green-Wood Cemetary.

While New York City was busy traffic as you would expect, it wasn’t nearly as bad as I thought it would be.  The kids enjoyed seeing the Statue of Liberty and Freedom Tower even if they were from a distance.  We spent most of the day in the truck and stopped in Pennsylvania for the night.  Ten hours to home!

Today, Andy became a member of the Order of Constantine – Sigma Chi’s highest honor.  Twenty plus years of alumni service and I cannot think of anyone more deserving.

Before I get all sappy, I wanted to share this picture first…  Laura with the Sweethearts.  They took time away from their lunch to meet Laura.  They spent time talking to her and it just made her week (again!).  I am not kidding.  I really think this girl is destined to be a sweetheart someday.

Back to Andy now…  His recorded speech was wonderful.  It was amazing to hear him thank me and the kids first for all those times when he was gone for fraternity business.  It was unnecessary though because we all understand how much the fraternity means to him (and to me as well, but that is a story for another time).  To watch him climb the stairs and receive his pin was amazing.  Just amazing.

I am so proud of him.

I took many pictures, but this picture of Andy holding his plaque is my favorite.

Congratulations from Laura, John, and I!  We are so proud of you and we love you!

Since Andy was in meetings most of the day for Grand Chapter, the kids and I did a little exploring at Providence Place.  On the fourth floor, we encountered Build-A-Bear Workshop and the kids could not wait to go in.  At first, I was going to let them get a Rhode Island-themed shirt for their stuffed animals, but then we found Stormfly and Toothless from “How to Train Your Dragon” (and a discount on the cost of both of them) and that was the end of just a shirt.  John got Stormfly…

…and Laura got Toothless.  I have to admit they are cute!

After joining Andy for lunch, we spent the rest of the afternoon relaxing at the hotel pool.

Once Andy got back from his meetings, it was time for the Sweetheart Reception.  I think us Kassels clean up well!

As we were leaving the reception, Andy and Laura ran into Kelsey Maggard, the 2015-2017 International Sweetheart.  One thing led to another and Laura ended up wearing her crown.  I *think* this just may have made Laura’s week!  She was so happy to wear it and hold Kelsey’s white roses.  Maybe we have a future Sigma Chi Sweetheart…

Despite a rough start to our day (Andy and I are *not* college students anymore), we did manage to make it to the Rhode Island State House before the beginning of Sigma Chi Grand Chapter.

What a beautiful building!  It is open to the public, so we went inside to look around.  The paintings on the inside of the dome and the chandelier that hangs from the dome are amazing…

…and the State Room has two paintings of George Washington on each end.

We wandered into the library because the kids were amazed at the “old books.”  One of the librarians showed the kids a book from 1802.  She talked with them about how spelling was not standardized, so some words look “funny” by today’s standards.

While in the State House, a bell began to ring and Laura informed us that it was the “call to vote” bell.  We asked the librarian about this and she told us that both houses of Congress were in session to vote on the Rhode Island state budget.  On the way out of the State House, we stopped to look at two cannons – one from Gettysburg and one from Bull Run.

The Gettysburg Gun actually has a cannonball stuck in its mouth and there is an explanation of how that happened.

We spent the rest of the evening at the opening reception for Sigma Chi’s 81st Grand Chapter where the Artillery Company of Newport had a cannon cast by Paul Revere on display.

It was great evening with great people, and a wonderful way to begin Grand Chapter.

Sometimes, you have to stop because you are too close not to stop.  Last night, we stayed in Clarion, PA, roughly 45 minutes from Punxsutawney, PA.  Of course, we *had* to meet Punxsutawney Phil!  How could we not?

What a fun, side trip!  We learned about the origins of Groundhog Day in Punxsutawney…

…and got to see Phil’s Burrow at Gobbler’s Knob.  Both Andy and I commented on how small the actual area is.

We finished up our visit with a trip to the local library.  We just *had* to meet Punxsutawney Phil!

Here he is!