The chapter on the recent era, our leadership period, is so difficult. It's hard to know where the line is between sharing family stories to illustrate a point and bragging. My main point has been that powerful outdoor experiences have a profound, long lasting impact on people's lives. That's why it's so important for kids to have them during their formative years. For Dave and Lee, I told beautiful stories to express the influence their experiences had on starting and continuing the backpacking program. I talked about how their scouting years, and Lee's time at the Air Force Academy shaped their leadership styles.
If I follow parallel structure, I should do the same for us. It's easy for Steve. In fact, I've written compelling stories about his childhood, scouting years and his time in the army. My own background is so boring. Girls had so few opportunities and having parents from NYC who never went hiking or camping certainly didn't help. I put in two small anecdotes.
First, I found refuge from my younger brothers and sisters in trees. I had resolved to read all the books in the public library so when I was freed from childcare, I scrambled up a tree out of their reach and read for hours. The only significant outdoor activity my parents enjoyed was fishing. I liked casting from the shore, as long as I didn't catch anything. Boats, on the other hand, were another matter. I got seasick within just a few minutes in a rocking boat. If the boat was still, the sun beating on my head caused migraines. Nothing has changed. I still love forests, creeks and beaches and I still get seasick easily. Neither of these stories begins to compare any of the men's. Good grief. I liked it better when I left myself out completely.
All day Steve and his crew worked on building the ship's cabins. They made a lot of progress and he feels like we might actually be ready for the show in two weeks.
The boys' dance line
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