someday people will learn...
So today was 'Mission Trip Report' day in church. Something of a command performance; our assistant priest who'd organized the trip wanted a good turn-out, so the girls and I dutifully donned our official trip t-shirts and joined the rest of the gang in the front pews. During the announcements, the priest said, "Now our young people will come forward and each say a few words about their experiences on the Mission Trip."
I figured I was in the clear--obviously 'young people' refers to the teenagers, not the chaperones--and stepped aside to let the kids go up and do their thing. But no. The two guy chaperones decided everyone had to speak and ushered the rest of us forward. And of course they went on at great length, bless their little hearts. When it was my turn to speak I just said,
"Only in the Episcopal Church do they use the term 'young people' to include those of us over forty. Amen to that."
In other news, we saw Robert off for a week of Boy Scout camp before church. I know he will have a good time. Still, it feels strange to have my 'baby' gone for a week. I have left him with my husband or with my parents, but he's never left me, nor gone away for so long without another family member accompanying him.
His Scout Master delayed departure for a good twenty minutes as he had all the boys practice lining up in squads, marching in formation, and standing at attention and parade rest. Apparently there has been some complaint that our boys don't look very sharp when compared to the other troops at camp.
"When I was a boy, scouts knew how to march," I overheard him saying. This is a common refrain from our Scout Master: when I was a boy...
Apparently also in the interest of looking sharp, our troop has instituted a new uniform rule. In the past the boys have had to be in uniform only from the waist up--shirt, neckerchief and slide. Some parents wanted to require the BSA uniform pants or shorts as well. The compromise was 'decent' tan, olive green, or brown shorts--no baggy shorts, no excess pockets, and no 'girly' decorations. That last made me giggle uncontrollably. Heaven forbid any of our boys wear 'girly' shorts!