Girl Scouts

I was never in girl scouts, but my eight year old sister is. This weekend they had their annual retreat to Camp Pendalouan. I was looking forward to going because I have memories of going to the same camp with my brother during the time he had leukemia. I guess I didn't think about the fact that there would be a ton of eight year old girls. While it was fun, it was also stressful. I forgot how important having the top bunk, sleeping by the right person, being the first to do whatever it is they all want to do, and having the best story are at that age. I also forgot how fun it is to giggle for what seems like hours when it is bedtime. No matter how many times your leader lets you know that it is time to be quiet. And how scary spiders and ants are, especially if they are in your cabin. And how being away from home is fun and exciting, but when it is time for bed it quickly becomes a time that you miss your mom and all the comforts of home. One little girl said "I miss my mom whenever I go to bed and whenever I leave. Maybe I should let her know."

I also got to see my sister interact with her peers and see how she is in different situations. The way she handled herself was very shocking. She was afraid of being on a lake in a canoe, which surprised me. She has grown up on a lake and her dad has a boat that they go out on all of the time. The rock wall, however didn't phase her. She climbed half way up, which was fifty feet. I was just happy that she wanted to try it. I thought she would be like most of the other girls and get on the wall and within thirty seconds get scared and come down. But she loved it. She told me the scary part wasn't climbing up, but the part where she had to dangle and trust the person with the rope to let her down safely. All things considered, I would do it again in a heartbeat.