usadeepsouth.com by Charles W. Dowdy ![]() Honest, the sign read. Easy enough. I only lie when the truth might hurt other people, or get me in trouble. Prepared, the next sign read. We had a whole carload full of prepared. I had a dent in my checkbook from the prepared. For one night's stay we were loaded down with more gear than a frontier family setting off in a wagon across the Great Plains. Thrifty. My wife refers to me as a cheapskate, which is on the extreme side of thrifty, so I have room to spare there. Clean. With a bunch of little kids at a campsite with no showers? After fifteen minutes we were going to look like Charlie, Lucy and the bunch at a Pig Pen family reunion. Brave -- under what circumstances? During the camping experience am I expected to eat slightly undercooked bacon or wrestle a bear? Reverent, well . . . Helpful, blah, blah, blah, blah,
blah.
In fact, I came up with my own list and thought it a little more realistic and worthy of consideration by the Scouts. Fair enough: "trustworthy, honest, courteous, helpful" -- who is going to argue with these traits? But I say dump "thrifty, brave, clean and reverent," and go with "credit card debt free, reasonable, lacking permanent body art and sweet to mom." In truth, the whole Scouting thing was a little too anal for my tastes. Police this area, clean this up, be principled, hang out with guys and mosquitoes all weekend and enjoy it. It's like they are trying to control Mother Nature, which in my opinion is not too smart. In fact, she's laughing her head off and thinking, "That orderly campsite ought to really help when a swarm of locusts comes sweeping through." Another problem with the Scouting experience is the parents who have no background whatsoever at camping and yet they go join their children in this endeavor, which is another way to subliminally inform the child you have no business producing offspring. But a strange thing happened on last weekend's campout. I found myself enjoying it, immeasurably. In my mind I had built this up as the beginning of the end with my son. He's one of the youngest Scouts and he was going to get out there with the cool older kids and Dad was going to be in the way. Not the case. My son took my hand and dragged me everywhere he went, including me in everything he did. Seemed as if we walked fifty miles over those two
days, and every step of the way he held my hand in his.
Not in a dependent way. But in a way that he was
pulling me into what he wanted to see and do. As we
approached other groups of Scouts I'd ease my
hand away, gesturing to make a point, scratching my
head, anything to get my hand out of his lest the
older, cooler kids say something to my Cub Scout
holding his dad's hand.
(For those skeptics out there: Yes, I was involved. I have indisputable evidence that I have at least fifty-one seconds invested in who this kid has become; beyond that his mother probably deserves most of the credit, but either way, he's a keeper.) Most importantly, after this past weekend in his
company, I have resolved that if my oldest son wants
to be a Boy Scout or an astronaut, a farmer or a
scientist, a teacher or a public servant, this is one
father who will always be there holding his hand,
whether he knows it or not.
![]() Charles Dowdy's web site is not to be missed! He has to be one of the funniest, most irreverent writers in the South . . . or anywhere. Go see! The Waiting Room War Zone Small Towns and The 3 Second Intersection Rule President Bush, Sponge Bob, and a Banana The Twins Journal Teeball Dad Whatcha Doin'? Amending the Neighborhood Constitution Pregnant Dad Double Trouble: Cross-eyed Twins An open letter to my wolf The Chattanooga North Pole This column really stinks Please visit our Message Board or write Ye Editor at bethjacks@hotmail.com. Thanks! ![]() Back to USADEEPSOUTH - II index page |