1 July 2001

We gathered for our trip to summer camp a little earlier than we had in previous years, and it was a good idea. Took almost an hour to get ourselves organized.

First and foremost, as with almost all things, was the paperwork. Colorado is a little overboard in their youth protection laws, and we all had to have approved physical forms, signed by our physicians. At least this year, everyone's was complete. One doctor forgot to sign the form one year, and the father had to run him down on a Sunday to get his John Henry. Then had to drive his son to camp himself (got there before we did, as they didn't stop for lunch in University Town). No such problems this year.

Even the adults have to get the physical and the form. I ended up getting a tetanus booster shot because of my big mouth. Got a booster five years ago, and our Doc says they are usually good for ten years "unless you get a cut," then it's five years.

"Well heck, I get cuts all the time!" my big mouth spoke. Which is true. And fang holes from heelers.

So I got the booster.

And as soon as I get back, I have to make an appointment for the removal of a irregularly shaped patch of multi-colored dark skin that has appeared in the past six to seven months. Doc got serious when I showed it to him. Wanted to cut then and there, but no way I could have hiked all week with stitches in the groin (yes, in the hair).

Almost definitely malignant, he said. Hopefully not metastacized.

Only thought of it once all week.

Mr. Volunteer's son was chosen for the baseball All Star's team on Saturday night. He was told he had to get to all practices to get to play, so he opted for baseball over camp, and canceled at the last minute. But just the same, his Dad showed up to drive the trailer and boys to camp. While he occassionally doesn't follow through on what he promises, his heart is definitely in the right place.

He was, however, quite perturbed to see one of the coaches's sons, also on the All Star team, going on the camping trip. Seems he was misinformed by some busybody parent. His boy could have gone camping and still have played at the All Stars in Central City. Now no trip for his son, and the nonrefundable camp fees are gone with the wind.

But since our numbers were depleted, we no longer needed the extra seating of our old, old pickup. So I got to steal the Explorer for the trip (Yea! Air conditioning!). And poor wife had to make do with the old one-ton all week.

As soon as we arrived in camp, scouts began running around sniffing trees, seeing which ponderosa were vanilla, and which were strawberry or chocolate.

Somebody claimed to find butterscotch, but it was vanilla to me.

Wonder what the rest of the groups thought of us.

We were greeted by our camp guide, accompanied by a former member of our group. This young man is the same age as eldest son, and lives in our small town. Started at the beginning of this youth program along with eldest son, led and trained by my wife.

She taught him his first aid. She didn't just present the procedures and treatments to her charges. They trained and drilled and practiced. They knew first aid before that learning was formally taught years later in the program.

He put her training to real use when his cousin flipped an ATV in the remote mountains a few years back.

And here he is, wearing the uniform with the red and white lifesaving knot.

He also wears the highest rank that can be earned in this organization, one which I was privileged to award him. But I always look at that red and white knot.

As I watched him and the rest of the staff give an excellent opening campfire that night, I had to choke back the tears.

How could I explain them to my newest charges?