A good day

[MattR 2659]

About a month ago someone left a note on my door, rang the bell and left. The dog went crazy, I found the note, read it, and immediately called the scout that left it. He was my first scout that joined, some 18 years ago. The note was a thank you for helping him through some good and bad times. He very gently asked if I'd like to have a beer with him and I said absolutely. Long story short about 30 scouts and scouters from the past 25 years got together last night at a favorite brewery. It was fun. It was also better than that. There were a few scouts I didn't recognize until a certain phrase, tone of voice or look of the eye gave them away. I gave one of them a ride home and he finally opened up and apologized for being such a pain when he was a scout. I laughed. A few thanked me for the tough love. We told lots of stories and could finally fill in some details that we couldn't mention before because the scouts didn't want the adults to know or vice-versa.

The scouts all thanked me for what I'd done for them years ago but it was really I that was thankful for what they all did for me last night. I stepped down as SM about a year before Covid started. Then there was the bankruptcy. It's been lousy and I've been frustrated and disappointed. Fewer volunteers, fewer scouts, less mature scouts, no guidance from national. But ... maybe there's a way for me to accept a new normal and get back to helping youth gain some fond memories forged in the outdoors.

[Sentinel947 1205]

Thanks for this post MattR. 

I had a similar experience recently. I went over to a friend's house to have a few drinks and watch the MLB All Star Game. My friends son, college age, (never was a Scout) had some of his friends over to play Magic the Gathering. One of those friends was a former Scout from my Troop, so it was nice to check in. He's doing well, family is well, he's working as an electricians apprentice.