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The Brownies at my school were working on their HerStory badge and wanted to interview adults who had been Girl Scouts when they were young. I pulled out my old Junior uniform sash and took a walk down memory lane.
A quick inventory shows a few stars, tarnished from storage in basements and closets. Fly-up wings representing the move from Brownies to Juniors. Troop number, council name, and badges: badges galore.
The badges are a fascinating glimpse into the girl I was in elementary school. Two music: one general, another more advanced. A cooking badge; I earned that with my piano teacher and her daughters. Two that imply outdoor cooking – what was the difference between the campfire and the grill? Was it exactly what it seems? There’s a badge with a slipper, medeival style. Storytelling? Theater? The sewing badge that I earned along with my troop; I squeaked through this one by the skin of my teeth with my mother’s help. The sewing gene skipped a generation; my daughter can sew, but I can’t.
The oval patch above the troop number – I now know it was the troop crest – featured a lily of the valley. I’ve always loved these gentle flowers, and I grow them in my backyard.
With the patches – badges and crests and more – come the memories. I hope today’s Scouts’ memories last into their adulthood. I thank them for inviting me to visit their troop and stirring me to reflect on the way the Girl Scout in my past resembled the woman I am now.
>How cool that you shared that with your students! That's neat.
>I was a boy scout, but only for a couple years. I often wondered why the two groups never competed much. I reckon the answer should be obvious. ;~)
>That's so cool that you kept that. I was in brownies and I have no earthly idea where my sash is.
>Our girls are in a Daisy troop. I keep promising to find my sash, but I haven't done it yet. Now I'm inspired to do it tomorrow.
>That's so lovely. I was never in anything like that and Chipmunk would struggle with Cubs…regardless of the fact that the waiting list to get in is huge!