Dedicated to my brother, Spc. Frank E. Stokes.So today was trek 3 across the I-10 corridor to take oldest son Christopher to Boy Scout Camp. Another 3 ½ hour trip was the culmination of a frustrating attempt to actually get all the information needed to get him there. This is not his regular troop but what they call a “maverick” troop of kids who, for whatever reason, couldn’t make their troop’s organized summer camping trip but still wanted to camp this summer. Let me say this type of mentality completely eludes me – why anyone would voluntarily sleep in a TENT without AC in July in Texas is beyond me, but I digress… After sharing notes with other Scouting mothers, this disorganization is nothing new. I asked hubby Shelby if a prerequisite for Scouting was having to be completely unorganized to which he responded, “No, but it helps.”
It must be a Y-chromosome thing. A woman would have had everything planned and executed within 3 days, a bundt cake made and served as you drove in, and cots set up complete with blanket turned down and mint on the pillow. Shelby disagreed – he seems to think it has something to do with my obsessive compulsive tendency to have a place for everything and everything in its place. Pffttt, what does he know – by the way, honey, your shoes go in the closet. He brought up a good point though, this organization, like many others regardless of size, is comprised of volunteers. These volunteers come in all shapes, sizes, degrees of involvement, and degrees of irritation. Regardless of what we think they should be doing, they are there. On the front lines, helping our children grow and learn. They are making a difference.
As we were making the trip, I had the chance to marvel at how handsome Christopher looked in his uniform. Boy Scouts must wear their Class A uniform when traveling to and from official events. Much of this has to do with respect for the organization and the role of Scouting. It also has to do with the idea of being part of something larger than one’s self. This group of young men and their leaders reminded me of another group of volunteers – the men and women of our Armed Forces. I remember the first time my brother came home from basic training in his uniform. I also remember watching him board a train in fatigues in Paris where we met for a vacation before he was deployed to Kosovo – the last time I ever saw him in the vibrant way I remember him to this day. I will also never forget the day we buried him in full dress uniform in an official military ceremony complete with 21 gun salute. My brother wasn’t the first in my family to give his life for his country – we have family members still entombed within the sunken USS Arizona in Pearl Harbor.
Before we left, we had dinner with our neighbors last night. It was an early Independence Day celebration as well as a small, intimate 40th birthday party for the man of the house. The topic of much discussion was the ban of all fireworks within the city of Houston. Where they had come from, fireworks were allowed. Well, we “repeated-parents-of-the-year” award winners, felt compelled to inform them that we broke the law every year and actually had sparklers and a small arsenal of low level sparking, popping, screeching type fireworks. After all, we could easily blame said fireworks on the kids. They would get off with a misdemeanor charge that would disappear off their record at 17. Just kidding!
But seriously, what has happened to the all-American past time of kids with sparklers on the 4th of July? My husband wanted to post something on Facebook to the effect that if we can’t let our kids have sparklers then the terrorists have already won the battle. I suggested that there were too many key words that Homeland Security would pick up with that post so that might not be the best choice of words. Lord knows I need help with the day-to-day raising of our kids and I don’t think that would happen from maximum security prison. I didn’t even want to think of the fact it would probably land him on the “no fly” list at the airports.
Where else can our children safely see the “rockets red glare” and “bombs bursting in air” that make up our national anthem? We are suddenly torn between being law-abiding role models for our children and wanting to share our traditions and values of patriotism. We volunteer to teach our children about loyalty and national pride. But it goes far beyond one day and the few things we teach them on that day. We want them to learn trust, honesty, obedience, faithfulness, and honor. Hhmm, this is starting to sound like something from Scouts. Perhaps, even in the midst of their disorganization, there is a goal. A goal that is sadly missing from many young people and their organizations today. The same goal that is still present in our service men and women across the globe – one of service and dedication.
I know I’m probably rambling from sheer exhaustion, but I think I’ve changed my mind about the Scouts. Yes, dear, I am admitting I was wrong. Why do men find that so amusing? While the Scouts may seem disorganized in the way that only the madwoman from Shiloh could understand, they are teaching our country’s young men something that is slowly diminishing from society. And it closely resembles those hallmarks of the same brave men and women who have gone before us and will go ahead of us to ensure that we have the choice to partake in such insanity as Scouts.
Thank you to all those who teach and lead our young men and women. Thank you to all those who serve our country. May you all sleep well, stay safe, and return home to those that love you best.
Happy 4th of July!
It must be a Y-chromosome thing. A woman would have had everything planned and executed within 3 days, a bundt cake made and served as you drove in, and cots set up complete with blanket turned down and mint on the pillow. Shelby disagreed – he seems to think it has something to do with my obsessive compulsive tendency to have a place for everything and everything in its place. Pffttt, what does he know – by the way, honey, your shoes go in the closet. He brought up a good point though, this organization, like many others regardless of size, is comprised of volunteers. These volunteers come in all shapes, sizes, degrees of involvement, and degrees of irritation. Regardless of what we think they should be doing, they are there. On the front lines, helping our children grow and learn. They are making a difference.
As we were making the trip, I had the chance to marvel at how handsome Christopher looked in his uniform. Boy Scouts must wear their Class A uniform when traveling to and from official events. Much of this has to do with respect for the organization and the role of Scouting. It also has to do with the idea of being part of something larger than one’s self. This group of young men and their leaders reminded me of another group of volunteers – the men and women of our Armed Forces. I remember the first time my brother came home from basic training in his uniform. I also remember watching him board a train in fatigues in Paris where we met for a vacation before he was deployed to Kosovo – the last time I ever saw him in the vibrant way I remember him to this day. I will also never forget the day we buried him in full dress uniform in an official military ceremony complete with 21 gun salute. My brother wasn’t the first in my family to give his life for his country – we have family members still entombed within the sunken USS Arizona in Pearl Harbor.
Before we left, we had dinner with our neighbors last night. It was an early Independence Day celebration as well as a small, intimate 40th birthday party for the man of the house. The topic of much discussion was the ban of all fireworks within the city of Houston. Where they had come from, fireworks were allowed. Well, we “repeated-parents-of-the-year” award winners, felt compelled to inform them that we broke the law every year and actually had sparklers and a small arsenal of low level sparking, popping, screeching type fireworks. After all, we could easily blame said fireworks on the kids. They would get off with a misdemeanor charge that would disappear off their record at 17. Just kidding!
But seriously, what has happened to the all-American past time of kids with sparklers on the 4th of July? My husband wanted to post something on Facebook to the effect that if we can’t let our kids have sparklers then the terrorists have already won the battle. I suggested that there were too many key words that Homeland Security would pick up with that post so that might not be the best choice of words. Lord knows I need help with the day-to-day raising of our kids and I don’t think that would happen from maximum security prison. I didn’t even want to think of the fact it would probably land him on the “no fly” list at the airports.
Where else can our children safely see the “rockets red glare” and “bombs bursting in air” that make up our national anthem? We are suddenly torn between being law-abiding role models for our children and wanting to share our traditions and values of patriotism. We volunteer to teach our children about loyalty and national pride. But it goes far beyond one day and the few things we teach them on that day. We want them to learn trust, honesty, obedience, faithfulness, and honor. Hhmm, this is starting to sound like something from Scouts. Perhaps, even in the midst of their disorganization, there is a goal. A goal that is sadly missing from many young people and their organizations today. The same goal that is still present in our service men and women across the globe – one of service and dedication.
I know I’m probably rambling from sheer exhaustion, but I think I’ve changed my mind about the Scouts. Yes, dear, I am admitting I was wrong. Why do men find that so amusing? While the Scouts may seem disorganized in the way that only the madwoman from Shiloh could understand, they are teaching our country’s young men something that is slowly diminishing from society. And it closely resembles those hallmarks of the same brave men and women who have gone before us and will go ahead of us to ensure that we have the choice to partake in such insanity as Scouts.
Thank you to all those who teach and lead our young men and women. Thank you to all those who serve our country. May you all sleep well, stay safe, and return home to those that love you best.
Happy 4th of July!
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