WordSisters

Tag: Boy Scouts

  • Two Moms, A Sister, and a Boy Scout

    Two Moms, A Sister, and a Boy Scout

    Taking the dental supplies to the clinic through the streets of Anitqua, Guatemala
    Taking the dental supplies to the clinic through the streets of Antiqua

    When Juan Jose was ten, he was dumped in the Brule River not once, but twice when I was at the helm of our canoe. Without help from strangers, we would not have made it to the landing.

    He’s almost 14, and he recently completed a comprehensive water-based safety course that involved practicing self-rescue and rescuing other kayakers with his Boy Scout troop in Lake Superior. These are necessary skills for the wilderness cold water kayaking that he’ll be doing in Alaska with the Scouts this August.

    Juan didn’t join Scouts to learn how to navigate water. He joined Scouts to learn what his two moms and sister couldn’t teach him.

    I became a Cub Scout leader by default. He wouldn’t let me drop him off while I ran errands for an hour.

    Dentist Hugo, Juan Jose, Hygenist
    Dentist Hugo, Juan Jose, Hygienist

    When it was time for him to cross over to Boy Scouts, he decided to stay in scouting. This surprised me. I was preparing myself for a free evening. Instead, I trained to be an assistant Boy Scout leader. He still wasn’t ready for a parent to drop and run.

    Juan was pulling away from me though. I no longer went to all of his campouts. When I did go, he was caught up in the flow of scouts running from one event to another.

    Today, he completed his Eagle Scout project in Guatemala. He raised funds for children to receive dental care, and he collected over 130 lbs. of toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss and dental supplies .

    Juan gave the children sunglasses so they wouldn't be blinded by the light. That's how it is done at his dentist in Richfield.
    Juan gave the children sunglasses so they wouldn’t be blinded by the light. That’s how it is done at his dentist in Richfield.

    The money he raised enabled 14 dental cleanings, 34 extractions, 31 fillings, and 28 sealants. Care that these children would not have received otherwise.

    He gave one suitcase of dental supplies to the dentist and a suitcase of toothbrushes, toothpaste, and floss to De Familia a Familia. This organization is a link between birth and adoptive families. They have over 260 families that they are currently working with.

    Juan couldn’t have done this project without help from relatives, friends, neighbors, and strangers.

    And, his two moms and sister.

    Six teeth extracted and a dental cleaning.
    Six teeth extracted and a dental cleaning.

    Because of all of us, he’s learned to navigate waters and to pull himself back into his kayak.

    Thank you.

  • A CHRISTMAS DILEMMA

    brown treeJody and I have a dilemma. Our kids have Christmas all year long. They don’t want for anything.

    Well, of course, they have a Christmas list. But … Antonio won’t get a hoverboard. He won’t get an upgrade to his iPhone 6. And, Crystel will have to wait to meet Ellen DeGeneres.

    Jody and I created our own problem. We don’t wait for holidays or birthdays to gift them.

    Antonio needed cross country boots and skis for Nordic skiing. We went to Sports Authority, our default store. We learned that they do not carry cross country boots or skis. While there, I encouraged Antonio to pick out five pairs of sweat pants and tops, his default clothing of choice. I had noticed his pant legs were creeping up. In my day, they called those “high water pants.”

    Then we went to Dick’s, and they also didn’t have what we were looking for but they had socks for Antonio.

    Finally, at REI we purchased the cross country boots, which we would end up returning because they were the wrong style. Still, while we were there I encouraged Antonio to pick out some dehydrated meals to try at home – anticipating his Boy Scout trip to Alaska in August of 2016.

    The original purpose of our trip would prove fruitless yet bountiful for Antonio.

    I mentioned the ‘Christmas all year long’ concept to Antonio and Crystel.

    Though they didn’t disagree, they were not wild about my conclusion. I suppose they imagined a bare tree. Not hard to do when there isn’t even snow on the ground in Minnesota.

    Still there has to be something under the tree for them. Something they don’t yet want.

    Then there it was – snow boots. They need snow boots. Antonio will be taking a couple of winter camping trips with the Scouts. And Crystel’s no longer fit her. 

    This may be the biggest surprise of all on Christmas Eve, since its December 21, 2015 and there is no snow on the ground in Minnesota.

     

  • Cat on a Walk

    Cat on a Walk

    Silver, getting suited up for his walk.
    Silver

    Antonio stood at the door, a clipboard in his hand. “Would you like to buy a wreath from Boy Scouts?”

    The man holding the door abruptly stepped outside and side-stepped around Antonio.

    “Ssssh. Quiet. Stay still.” He crouched into a linebacker pose.

    I watched from where I stood a few feet away.

    The man was advancing slowly forward. He looked as if he was going to make a move.

    I glanced to the side of his house. Suddenly, I understood. “That’s our cat,” I said.

    “Really?” His body taut, still ready to pounce. He clearly didn’t believe me.

    “Yes. He’s on a walk with us.”

    “Really?” He wasn’t yet ready to give up snaring the cat.

    “Yes. We live a few blocks over.”

    Resigned, he stood up straight. “Someone said they were missing a cat that looks just like that.”

    Rosie, Silver, and Oreo
    Rosie, Silver, and Oreo in Donaldson Park

    “No, that’s our cat,” I repeated.

    Antonio came down the steps and turned to walk towards the next house. “Here, Silver. Here, boy.”

    I caught up to him.

    “Did you see that?” Antonio whispered. “He was going to take our cat.”

    “Yeah, I did.” I looked at Silver a few respectful paces away. I studied him. “He looks homeless,” I said. “He doesn’t have a collar.”

    Jody, Antonio, Crystel, and I are responsible cat owners. We take our cats in for their checkups. They have all their shots. They are also outdoor cats. We put collars on them when they were kittens. That didn’t go so well.

    Oreo waiting for us.
    Oreo waiting for us.

    For the past six months Silver and/or Oreo have gone on walks with us. I first noticed it on a May morning when I was walking the dogs. Silver followed us up Morgan Avenue, down 73rd, all around Donaldson Park and back down 73rd and then Morgan Avenue to our home.

    What to do? I gave him a treat just like I gave the dogs.

    One of Antonio and Crystel’s chores this summer was to walk the dogs each day. More often than not, Silver and Oreo – his sister, accompanied them.

    Sometimes, cars will stop and ask us if that’s our cat(s) following us. “Yes, we’re on a walk,” we’ll reply.

    Adults with children will stop to pet the cats and/or dogs.

    But, until now, we weren’t worried about the cats appearing to be homeless.

    Orea and Buddy in-between walks
    Oreo and Buddy in-between walks

    Antonio and I continued knocking on doors. The further we went from our street the more Silver meowed. I understood. We were going further and further from his territory. His territory was east of Morgan not west where we were.This was confirmed when a woman said, “I haven’t seen that cat around here before.”

    “No, that’s our cat. He’s on a walk with us,” I replied.

    “That explains it,” she said.

    I can’t say that we sold more wreaths by having Silver with us.

    The next day all three outdoor cats had collars on whether they wanted them or not.

    They’re our cats. They have a home.