Life With Boys

Life with boys … Thoughts from summer camp … it is 3:14 am (pi) … the wind is gusting through the trees in bits and starts, rustling the leaves … and every single time I am convinced the Troop 72 summer monsoon is on its way … hoping our scouts “called out” for order of arrow are sleeping well under the stars … someone has been looking for something in their tote on an off for about an hour now … scuffle, scuffle, snap, snap … guessing they finally found it … it’s not too hot, but nevertheless the air in my tent is not moving so it seems warmer (trying to decide if running my fan makes me too delicate) … avoided stepping on two toads on my way back from the inevitable trip to the deluxe camp accommodations … one very full day ahead … service projects … Huck’s Cove water play … the mile swim (um, yeah, no) … then we start to camp tear down for departure on Saturday … it’s so bittersweet … since starting the boy scouting adventure this is the last summer camp with a youth scouter for me (and I truly did not think I would have been here this year – but the hint at the return to normalcy is very welcome) … I have watched these boys evolve and adapt in so many ways … it has often been maddening, infuriating, perplexing and always amazing … I will cry when the oldest boys make their comments to the troop on Saturday (huge surprise there) … and wish that their whole patrol could have been there together … And I know there are so many new experiences to come … crap, cannot find a Kleenex in the dark … I should try to get so sleep … in only an hour that stupid bird and the Ninja Boyd will be up prepping for the morning and getting ready to cajole 40 exhausted scouts and 15+ adults out of their sleeping bags … thank you to everyone who gives up their vacation (and sometimes their sanity) for sharing your families with us this week …