38.
I joined my old troop today to watch Andy Beagle and another old friend get their Eagles.
Eagle Court of Honors are always so nostalgic.
Things were much different eight years ago. No one knew who Andy, Jason, and I were. We were the new kids, just as there are a ton of new kids now in the troop. Our futures were uncertain and uncared about by the rest of the troop. We all focused on people like Brian Marhofer and Tristan Hendy.
Six years ago Andy was Senior Patrol Leader. For two years, I was his assistant. ASPL is a shitty job. No one knew how Andy did so well. No one understood how he led. It was mind-boggling how well he did. He would always be above me, I knew.
That was the year Andy and I got into the Order of the Arrow. We had a great weekend together at the ordeal initiation.
Now I'm Vice Chief of Program for the lodge. Next year I'm Lodge Chief. My Venture Crew got Crew of the year for the council. I have a staff at the national conference, this summer. I know most of the professionals in the district, council, and section. They know me.
Andy Beagle's not going to be in scouting anymore. He's made the hurtle of Eagle and that's as much as anyone in the troop has ever done.
That's what made it awkward, I guess. I walked into the church, wearing Venture attire and a slightly dirty Vigil honor sash for the OA. Their uniforms are the old ones that they eventually grew into. They wore a pair of khaki pants, which is as official as they've ever cared about. Andy's OA sash is the same one he got six years ago. It's never seen another OA event. He hasn't paid his dues since. He's not even a member any more.
I surmise he'll do the same with his Eagle badge.
They've all got bigger fish to fry. Andy's at MSU and Bryan Jedinak is in Florida with the Navy. I can't help feeling like I've lost them; left them for a different part of scouting. These are the guys that I thought I would grow up with. Now I can't hold up a conversation with them. "Where've ya been?" they ask. Not knowing how to respond I say, "around."
Almost all of the guys my age got their Eagles. Andy is the last of us. I don't think we're an "us" anymore.
I feel like a tree without roots.
Eagle Court of Honors are always so nostalgic.
Things were much different eight years ago. No one knew who Andy, Jason, and I were. We were the new kids, just as there are a ton of new kids now in the troop. Our futures were uncertain and uncared about by the rest of the troop. We all focused on people like Brian Marhofer and Tristan Hendy.
Six years ago Andy was Senior Patrol Leader. For two years, I was his assistant. ASPL is a shitty job. No one knew how Andy did so well. No one understood how he led. It was mind-boggling how well he did. He would always be above me, I knew.
That was the year Andy and I got into the Order of the Arrow. We had a great weekend together at the ordeal initiation.
Now I'm Vice Chief of Program for the lodge. Next year I'm Lodge Chief. My Venture Crew got Crew of the year for the council. I have a staff at the national conference, this summer. I know most of the professionals in the district, council, and section. They know me.
Andy Beagle's not going to be in scouting anymore. He's made the hurtle of Eagle and that's as much as anyone in the troop has ever done.
That's what made it awkward, I guess. I walked into the church, wearing Venture attire and a slightly dirty Vigil honor sash for the OA. Their uniforms are the old ones that they eventually grew into. They wore a pair of khaki pants, which is as official as they've ever cared about. Andy's OA sash is the same one he got six years ago. It's never seen another OA event. He hasn't paid his dues since. He's not even a member any more.
I surmise he'll do the same with his Eagle badge.
They've all got bigger fish to fry. Andy's at MSU and Bryan Jedinak is in Florida with the Navy. I can't help feeling like I've lost them; left them for a different part of scouting. These are the guys that I thought I would grow up with. Now I can't hold up a conversation with them. "Where've ya been?" they ask. Not knowing how to respond I say, "around."
Almost all of the guys my age got their Eagles. Andy is the last of us. I don't think we're an "us" anymore.
I feel like a tree without roots.