Last Sunday, my wife, Liz, and I, along with our little girl, Mary Ellen, attended an Eagle Scout investiture ceremony. It was a warm day with large puffy clouds slowly moving across the sky, riding the flow of a mild breeze; an idyllic Spring day.
Twenty years ago, I attended a similar ceremony; only I wasn't a guest, but the center of attention, there to be awarded the coveted title of Eagle Scout.
This was the first time my wife had attended such a ceremony and, having no brothers, was also her first real contact with the Boy Scouts of America - aside from me, that is. Over the course of our eleven years of marriage, I'd related one story after the next of my scouting adventures and she seemed to listen with a wary eye, not quite sure if I was merely being enthusiastic, if not outright stretching the truth. I'll confess both are very real possibilities.
It was about twelve years ago and Liz and I had been dating for a few short weeks, probably not more than two. As in any new relationship, there's a period of time when you're still getting to know your partner; their likes and dislikes; what interests they have, maybe even hobbies, and so on. As Liz and I prepared to go out to dinner one evening, she decided to stir the pot to see what floated to the surface.
"What's the strangest thing you've ever done?" she asked.
As I slipped my arms into my coat, I looked at her and replied, "Let's make a game outa this. I'll give you two answers and you have to pick the right one. How's that grab ya?"
Liz smiled saying, "Ok. So, what's the strangest thing you've ever done?"
We stepped out the door of my apartment and, as I locked the door behind me, I replied, "Hmm. Well, alright, how about this: I once went on vacation to the Grand Canyon with my parents and, when no one was looking, took a leak off the side of a cliff and into the raging Colorado River a mile below OR I was inducted into an ancient branch of the Delaware Indian tribe known as the Mic-o-say tribe and had to endure a grueling ordeal ceremony where I was dressed only in a loin cloth and had to dance around a bonfire to the satisfaction of howling warriors of the tribe who were constantly barking and yelling at me, belittling everything I did and urging me to quit and go home, all the while Indian drummers banging on their instruments and adding their own singing to the deafening cacophony. Which one ya pick?"
Article comments
1 - Tom Norris
I've read all the books above and, though your mileage may vary, I think perhaps the finest of the lot is Tales of an Empty Cabin.
The movie Grey Owl, I initially viewed with apprehension. When I saw that Pierce Brosnan starred in it, my first reaction was, "Aw christ... Remmington Steel? This is gonna suck." Still, I'd spent the money on the rental and watched it, nonetheless.
As difficult as it is for me to admit, I have a new respect for Mr. Brosnan. The film was immensely better than I had suspected it would be. Plus, there is a really cute chick in it and you get to see her boobs. BONUS!
So, I don't like to recommend books or movies because, when people have done so for my benefit, I've always been disappointed and wished they lose my phone number or, at the very most, would die for having subjected me to such torment. However, the movie was recommended by a friend and I was delighted to not be forced to pray for some horrible affliction to befall him.
The book, Tales of an Empty Cabin, I believe, can be recommended safely. Sometimes humorous, often serious; it is a thoroughly readable book.
2 - Van Piercy
I was impressed to hear not to long ago that Eagles get an automatic raise and rank increase when they enter the military. Is that true?
My son recently got his Arrow of Light and now is working on his first Boy Scout badges. A lot of liberal/cynical/urban(e) types enjoy tauting the demise of the Scouts--whether that demise is really true or not. I keep thinking of certain spin-off organziations such as Awanas or DeMolay--can they really offer the strength and spirit that the BSA has offered for almost a century?
I was a Cub Scout and then a Boy Scout. My parents' divorce pretty much ended my efforts. My mom moved us around a lot; there was little stability; my new male role models were her transient boy friends and husbands. There was scant support for what I was doing. I was in a new school every semester for six years while I tried to keep with Scouting.
If he wants to, my son will make Eagle in some measure because I will support him in it fully.
Basically, your article reminds me that our culture has neglected what it means to raise boys into worthwhile men. For instance, I doubt if any of the men involved in the Iraqi prisoner abuse scandal were Eagles. People with character and real leadership skills just don't lose their moral compass that easily.
Van in TX
3 - Van Piercy
Correction: I was just reading that DeMolay too started in the early part of the last century, in 1919. That makes it as venerable as the Scouts.
Van in TX
http://www.demolay.org/history/organization/