I was reminded this morning by an old friend of something I hadn’t even really thought about/remembered the last few days: Cub Scouts.
Back in the day, Dad was a “den leader,” and I believe I remember for a time he was even a “pack leader,” or at LEAST had helped out whoever WAS quite a bit. (EDIT: Mom has confirmed my memory that yes, he was pack leader for a time.)
He saw me in Cub Scouts–from Bobcat, Wolf, Bear, Webelos, to Arrow of Light. He encouraged me along into Boy Scouts, through all those years up to being THE needed push through to making Eagle Scout.
Whether it was still Cub Scouts preparing us for moving along into Boy Scouts, or early as a Boy Scout…I remember him walking some of us through the “Scout Law.”
A Scout is: Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, THrifty, Brave, Clean, and Reverent.
As a kid, remembering such a list was a sort of challenge.
But whether it was THAT particular experience, or any of the random experiences…
I guess I’d “forgotten” what a leader he was even to ME, and MY friends. And to plenty of boys my own age, whatever directions we’ve gone.
It wasn’t JUST fellow veterans or men his own age. It wasn’t just ME.
He was a leader, and he touched so many lives, and this reminds me yet again that he touched so many lives that I don’t even know.
I feel like I should try to type up a lot more specific memories from Cub Scouts and/or Boy Scouts…but as I’m typing this, I’m so emotionally drained from typing at friends and other mental processing; the open rawness I’m sharing lately that’s NOT gonna be in this blog.
But I guess this means I DO have a post to share today, where part of me feared it would be a struggle.
And I decided that post title before I started typing, so let me elaborate on another thought here I didn’t get to:
Dad was in the US Navy for 21 years. He was military, and HIS Dad (my Grandpa) was ALSO in the Navy. I never was (and have been grateful that Dad not only didn’t PUSH me in to the military but rightfully saw that the military was not for me and so shielded me) but have always held all the more respect for those who HAVE served this country as a result…because he, and they, did what I did NOT.
But I realized that while it’s NOT the military…Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts gave me that “organization,” that brotherhood and experience with structure and ranks; to grow and learn. And that it was some of Dad’s getting to really model to me what it was to be a man, and to LEAD, and so on.
And it was also another thing where he was very actively INVOLVED in MY life, with me, with something that was a part of my life and shaped me…and shaping me himself, and solidifying/encouraging friendships that I have to this day.
So it was that even in this, HE did his best, to do his duty, to God and his country…
The Life of Walt 