The Girl Scout Oath, written out by me in alphabet letters 45 years ago. I still try and live by that.
And every time I see this fragile little craft piece it warms my heart and makes me think about my sister friends that I met in Girl Scouts, who were so kind and loving and sweet.
I loved Brownies and Girl Scouts. I met such lovely friends, girls who were kind and for the first time, I felt a true sisterhood. When I was ten we moved away, and it was a very sad moment for me. I had just begun to come out of that introverted shell I existed in and now we were leaving for a town far away. I knew I’d never see these girls again, and even now that makes me sad. Things were so different then.
In the backyard of my troop leader’s house, we had a picnic and they gave me the teddy bear we had won for our cookie sales that year. We were a small troop and yet we won the coveted bear, and I knew they probably didn’t want to give it up but the troop leader gave it to me and do you know what?
I still have that bear. I still have it OUT in my house. I’ve loved it and remembered it all this time. I doubt they could have known that back then. I doubt they knew what I was going through, right then while this picture was taken. I doubt they knew what I had already been through, and what I had to endure. But that is perhaps what makes this bear even more special. They didn’t know but they showed friendship and love anyways, and I have been grateful ever since.