I had always wanted to learn how to survive in the world: you know, build campfires, live off the land, and be noted for surviving the wild. I thought I would gain that knowledge in Girl Scouts. I learned some of that stuff, but the friendships and humiliations that I suffered were far better. They were a part of what made me the type of person I am today.
Theresa P., as I will call her, was my best friend while in Girl Scouts. There were three children in her family, and like me, she was the oldest. Her family was very simple and lived on Green Mountain in Huntsville, Alabama. However, I had fun playing with her when I went to her house. She had this massive, and endless back yard, and the rolling paved hills were awesome bicycle racing features.
One day, we went exploring in her backyard. She showed me all the types of plants that could help us in life and the ones that would hurt us, like Poison Oak, Poison Ivy, and Poison Sumac. She knew which berries would make me sick and which ones to eat. She had received her Nature Badge, way before I did. So, we munched on Raspberries. They were so delicious! She showed me where some Wild Strawberries were going to bloom when in season and places where Blueberries were going to bloom in the Fall. I was so excited spending time with her.
So, our Moms decided to let us go camping with the Girl Scouts, and we were going to be Cabin Mates. At the time, I did not know about her condition, Urinary Incontinence. Actually, I had been so fortunate, that I did not have that problem or had heard of anyone having that problem when they were nine years old. My Mom did tell me that Theresa will not tell you she has to go to the bathroom, because she is embarrassed about going in the middle of the night, so keep asking her.
Anyone will tell you that in my early childhood, I slept like a "rock". So, I think I asked her a couple of times before I fell asleep and then I was in dreamland shortly after. In the middle of the night, Theresa was pushing me so hard that I woke up. I said, "Oh, you need to go to the bathroom?" She said, "Yes, but, but, but, but..." I said, "Spit it out! What is the problem?" She said, "I needed to go to the bathroom, but you did not wake up, so I just...went."
She had gone the bathroom in her sleeping bag, and of course all over her clothes, and there was left over on the floor. I did not know what to do. We did not have Mobile/Wireless Phones back then, and I was there that weekend to learn about "roughing it", even if it was only cabin style. So, I had to go wake up our Group Leader and tell her what happened. Unfortunately, our weekend together was shortened, and I did not get my Nature and Campfire Badge. I had failed one of my scouts.
But that did not falter our friendship. I still would go to her house and spend the night. She would sleep in a different bed, and I would sleep with her sister, Frances. My second lesson would be taught to me soon. This one particular time, I brought my bicycle with me to ride up and down the paved roads on Green Mountain. The roads were steep and usually I could only pedal half way before I would fizzle out. But the rides down were awesome! She would fly down those hills which gave her an advantage going up the next one, but I was a little more cautious. I would go down the hills, but use my brakes, because it was so fast and scary! I was not a dare-devil when it came to physical challenges.
So, I asked my Mom, "Can I go participate in the Bicycle Safety Day that the Girl Scouts are presenting?" I told my Mom, "If I pass I can get my Bicycle Safety Badge." Hesitantly, she agreed. She did not know what would happen since the last time I went away from home and did not earn my Merit Badge. But thought it was a good idea especially since most recently, I got my new bicycle, a 10-speed white Olympic Bicycle.
I had the best bicycle in the safety training course. I was so confident riding this awesome new bicycle. I was going faster than anyone else. But you know what the wise man says about being overconfident and "showing off". "It always ends badly for the one who is not humble." So, I decided to race around the corner to show off the large thin wheels of my bicycle. Really I felt like a deer just learning how to prance. Unfortunately, there was loose gravel. My bicycle tire skidded, I lost control of the bicycle, flew over the handlebars, and slid into an abrupt stop. I had really done it this time.
Now, not only did I not get my Bicycle Safety Badge, I had a hurt ego, two holes in my hands, one in my knee; I also needed stitches in my jaw There was rock debris in my hands and knee, and the thrash in my jaw was too close to the bone, so my Dad had to "butterfly closure" it and then tape up my face with medical tape. I looked like I had a taped chin guard to my face. Then, I would say, "Oh, woe is me!"
Soon, after these two incidents, I decided that Girl Scouts really wasn't the extracurricular activity for me. But I did learn the importance of humility and responsibility.
Theresa P., as I will call her, was my best friend while in Girl Scouts. There were three children in her family, and like me, she was the oldest. Her family was very simple and lived on Green Mountain in Huntsville, Alabama. However, I had fun playing with her when I went to her house. She had this massive, and endless back yard, and the rolling paved hills were awesome bicycle racing features.
One day, we went exploring in her backyard. She showed me all the types of plants that could help us in life and the ones that would hurt us, like Poison Oak, Poison Ivy, and Poison Sumac. She knew which berries would make me sick and which ones to eat. She had received her Nature Badge, way before I did. So, we munched on Raspberries. They were so delicious! She showed me where some Wild Strawberries were going to bloom when in season and places where Blueberries were going to bloom in the Fall. I was so excited spending time with her.
So, our Moms decided to let us go camping with the Girl Scouts, and we were going to be Cabin Mates. At the time, I did not know about her condition, Urinary Incontinence. Actually, I had been so fortunate, that I did not have that problem or had heard of anyone having that problem when they were nine years old. My Mom did tell me that Theresa will not tell you she has to go to the bathroom, because she is embarrassed about going in the middle of the night, so keep asking her.
Anyone will tell you that in my early childhood, I slept like a "rock". So, I think I asked her a couple of times before I fell asleep and then I was in dreamland shortly after. In the middle of the night, Theresa was pushing me so hard that I woke up. I said, "Oh, you need to go to the bathroom?" She said, "Yes, but, but, but, but..." I said, "Spit it out! What is the problem?" She said, "I needed to go to the bathroom, but you did not wake up, so I just...went."
She had gone the bathroom in her sleeping bag, and of course all over her clothes, and there was left over on the floor. I did not know what to do. We did not have Mobile/Wireless Phones back then, and I was there that weekend to learn about "roughing it", even if it was only cabin style. So, I had to go wake up our Group Leader and tell her what happened. Unfortunately, our weekend together was shortened, and I did not get my Nature and Campfire Badge. I had failed one of my scouts.
But that did not falter our friendship. I still would go to her house and spend the night. She would sleep in a different bed, and I would sleep with her sister, Frances. My second lesson would be taught to me soon. This one particular time, I brought my bicycle with me to ride up and down the paved roads on Green Mountain. The roads were steep and usually I could only pedal half way before I would fizzle out. But the rides down were awesome! She would fly down those hills which gave her an advantage going up the next one, but I was a little more cautious. I would go down the hills, but use my brakes, because it was so fast and scary! I was not a dare-devil when it came to physical challenges.
So, I asked my Mom, "Can I go participate in the Bicycle Safety Day that the Girl Scouts are presenting?" I told my Mom, "If I pass I can get my Bicycle Safety Badge." Hesitantly, she agreed. She did not know what would happen since the last time I went away from home and did not earn my Merit Badge. But thought it was a good idea especially since most recently, I got my new bicycle, a 10-speed white Olympic Bicycle.
I had the best bicycle in the safety training course. I was so confident riding this awesome new bicycle. I was going faster than anyone else. But you know what the wise man says about being overconfident and "showing off". "It always ends badly for the one who is not humble." So, I decided to race around the corner to show off the large thin wheels of my bicycle. Really I felt like a deer just learning how to prance. Unfortunately, there was loose gravel. My bicycle tire skidded, I lost control of the bicycle, flew over the handlebars, and slid into an abrupt stop. I had really done it this time.
Now, not only did I not get my Bicycle Safety Badge, I had a hurt ego, two holes in my hands, one in my knee; I also needed stitches in my jaw There was rock debris in my hands and knee, and the thrash in my jaw was too close to the bone, so my Dad had to "butterfly closure" it and then tape up my face with medical tape. I looked like I had a taped chin guard to my face. Then, I would say, "Oh, woe is me!"
Soon, after these two incidents, I decided that Girl Scouts really wasn't the extracurricular activity for me. But I did learn the importance of humility and responsibility.
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