it's been a long time since I was a Girl Scout leader. it was an all-consuming thing. so much planning and prep. looking for ideas and projects. themed meetings. I loved about 95% of it. not the cookies and candy sales, though. ugh. anyways....that was long ago and far away. but sometimes something pops up on Facebook that brings back some memories.

Miss Jessica got married! pretty sure she's our first bride!

our youngest member just graduated from 6th grade. yay, Maddi!

Kassie has a baby.

Sunday, July 3, 2016

some musings....

our troop has been disbanded for what, a year now? maybe two? I was thinking back over the years. since I was an asst. leader/leader: my former Girl Scouts have been Miss Mercers, 1000 point basketball players, traveled internationally, graduated high school, started college, gotten jobs. there have been competitive dancers. state competitors in track. all kinds of athletic and scholarly honors. state FBLA and FFA competitors. and now, one is going to be a mom! we didn't do things the official GS way, I tried to teach them the Promise and Handshake and Law. we learned GS songs and traditions. we camped in my yard. it was a girl driven program, things that interested them got made into the meetings. there was laughter, tears, bonding. girls become bestest friends. I am proud of what we had. and yeah, I do miss it. the planning. the fun. I taught a few girls to sew. to cook. they were all thinkers. and planners. and dreamers. we bowled and skated and swam. we made crafts. we had parties....Juliette Lowe's birthday, Halloween, Christmas, Chinese New Years, end of year, Girl Scout Sunday, Bridging. they loved to party. we went to a high school football game and a intercollegiate baseball game. we donated stuff to the animal shelter and the hospital. we mailed postcards and Flat Girl Scouts to other troops. we had penpals. we did many many themed meetings....Friendship. Animals. Newscasters. Here Comes Honey Boo Boo. Movie Stars. you name it. we even did a few county GS activities.

I don't miss cookie sales and counting money. I do miss smiling girls. and tea parties. and giggles. we had something really special, I think. those girls really changed my life. each one of them.

I didn't sign up girls this fall....or attend the fall product kick off meeting....or run the baby show or have a float in the parade....

today I met a well dressed woman at the bank and closed the Troop 8044 account. it is done. I am no longer Girl Scout Leader Deb. I am just plain old deb again. and it feels good. threw away the checkbook.

notified by email today that the Troop 8044 account will be absorbed by the Princeton troop that Maddi joined....

so will have to go to bank and sign papers, and it will all be a done deal. already donated our leftover 'supplies' to the local school art dept. spent some time removing myself from GS emails and unliking and unfollowing GS stuff on facebook...

a Sookie Stackhouse Girl Scout quote!

"She is very kind, and sweet, and helpful, like a supernatural Girl Scout, because it's her nature and because she's trying to work her way up the magical ladder to become an angel."

All Together Dead, Charlaine Harris.

(although I have retired as a Girl Scout leader, I still enjoy a good Girl Scout quote!)

The Last Awards Ceremony

tomorrow nite is my last-ever awards ceremony

how many of these have I planned over the years? (sigh). put awards together....red and white mardi gras beads in the bottom of pink plastic mason jar glasses the girls will keep, with their badges on popsicle sticks like a bouquet. and I wrote a little good-bye speech.

Last night I was thinking about the girls in Troop #8044 over the years: Maddie, Jazmine, Kayleigh, Braelyn, Kassie, Brandy, Jessica M., Jessica P., Kayla, Kylie, Lindsay, Breanna, Dominique, Morissa, Nataleigh, Danielle, Nicole, Rayne, Kelsie, Melissa, Mackenzie, Sierra, Cortney, Liberty, Trinity, Emily, Katie, & Morgan.

I have loved watching you girls grow up, become friends, and learn so many things. Since our troop is multi-level, girls that might not have hung out did-Maddie learned a lot, but she taught the older girls things, as well. I appreciate you girls and your families for all the help over the years. I'll always be here if you need me. Princeton has amazing, very active Troops that will welcome you.

Girl Scouts is about so much more than selling cookies. You girls are the future and you will make a difference in the world.

Once a Girl Scout, always a Girl Scout.