Land of Goshen!

Monday, June 23, 2014

Is it that time of year again already?!

I begin the end today.  It won’t be quick, and it most likely won’t be painless, but as my last son begins his first year at beautiful Camp Marriott, I know the end is very nearly upon me.  How I got this old I know not, but I know it is what it is. 

Our party this year consists of 24 total scouts including 4 from another troop and 4 from a different troop and we are fortunate to have a bloke from London town with us as well.  We are lead ably by Brother White (head honcho) and Brother Baker (assistant honcho).  One very odd item Bro. H noted is that there was not a single mother (or a married one for that matter (rim shot)) drop off her kids this morning (or at least that I saw).   I’m not sure we have ever had a majority of the “drop-offers” be men, let alone a nearly unanimous showing.  Interesting.  We are just one seat short and so President H gets to accompany us down.  We are happy to have him but disappointed we didn’t quite manage to keep him from having to drive down.  We load up and head west just as the sun broaches the horizon the color of a flaming marshmallow.

My van is filled to capacity with the Z-men, two Ty-guys, Special K and the brick layer.  They (unfortunately) sleep very little but the conversation is (fortunately) kept to a dull roar and I learn all about any number of movies or tv shows or youtube videos involving zombies, shootings, etc. that I haven’t found time (or desire) to view.  It is also a sometimes painful reminder of just how difficult being in Jr. High/Middle School can be:  wanting to be your own person, but wanting to fit in and wanting to be cool yet still being just a kid at 12.  One boy  comments about a “friend” who threw an egg at a car and shattered a window and when the disbelief becomes a little much adds that they also threw a brick.  Hmmmm.  Another said that someone always calls rather than texts and that a call is better anyway, realizes that might be a statement not fully supported by the group generally so follows up with “at least most the time,” speaker indicates he texts sometimes, but not all the time.  I think I haven’t seen that many hedges in such close proximity since viewing that movie with the labyrinth in the garden.  It isn’t easy walking that line.  There is simply not enough money in the world to have me do it again. 

The Knob route proves the winning route again, but everyone else stopped and we drove on through so I’m not sure how much quicker we were.  We did do our good turn for the day was we were running down the Knob we almost ran into another car going the other direction.  It was a load of scouts looking for Goshen.  We told them to follow us and we led them to camp.  They were headed the wrong way.  The rest of the crew filters in.  While waiting, Bro. Baker discovers that rather than a new pick up he has actually purchased a very pricy mobile playground as the scouts climb over it like ants on a dropped jujube.

We are assigned camp #2.  It is just as far from everything as camp 1 with the added bonus that the path to Ecology heads at one side of our camp so we shall have non-troop members traipsing through our abode on a regular basis.  Super.  Boys pick tents, sweep out spiders (best line – can we get a lantern for our tent?  Why?  Because it is dark.  I typically open the doors if it is dark.  But that’s how the bugs get in!) and change for swim check.  We do swim check and all survive.  A number of folks are either initiated into the red hand club or have adopted themselves into a Native American tribe. 

We have staff introductions where the staff run in camp Marriott and injure themselves.  I assume to serve as an object lesson on why we don’t run in camp.  Because they can’t feed 400 people at once, they split us up and send 2/3rds on a “busy work” tour and we have the unfortunate rotation of being last to eat.  When we do, the hot dogs taste like, ok, they tasted like mediocre hot dogs, but we were appreciative of having at least something to eat. 

As soon as lunch is over it is on to merit badges.  I would give you some action photos, but trust me, there is NO action on day one.  They head out with blue cards in hand and visions of merit badges dancing in their heads. 

Dinner consists of a poor man’s chicken nugget (which really is saying something).  After dinner we have FHE which helps the boys appreciate the brievity of FHE at home.  We then walk back to camp and 20 minutes later then walk back for flag retreat. 

Upon returning to camp we enjoy some quiet less noisy time.  Despite the fact that their parents have paid full boat for them to be here, and for each of them to have a cot and to have two persons per tent.  6 scouts decide to sleep in one tent on three cots.  Ah to be young and able to walk after such a night!  Three other scouts are in another tent with three cots. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oh well, I have a tent to myself.  The big dipper is perfectly outlined by the trees above our camp.  I finally hit the sack and drift off.  Tomorrow we do it again.