As the cookie crumbles

One of the ladies from my neighborhood book club brought her daughter over last week taking orders for Girl Scout cookies.  I had to tell them we weren’t buying them this year, or perhaps anymore, for that matter.

It’s not that I don’t like them.  I like almost all of them, especially the Samoas and Thin Mints.  Have you ever had the Thin Mints frozen?   One year I put them in the freezer to save them for later munching.  When I needed a sweet I raided the freezer and didn’t even wait for them to thaw.  Yummy! 

Actually, Girl Scout cookies and I go way back.  I went all the way through scouting – Brownies through Seniors.  I sold those cookies when they were only seventy-five cents a box.  They funded all sorts of great activities from camping trips to crafts to service projects. 



Me - middle left

Scouting was good for me.  It helped me come out of my shell.  It taught me to try new things. 

I went on two Wider Opportunities, trips for girls from all over the country, based on a theme.  Between my sophomore and junior years in high school I spent a week at the national Girl Scout camp in Ten Sleep, Wyoming, learning about photography.  A year later I travelled to Knoxville, Tennessee, to learn about different types of energy sources and attend the World's Fair. 

At one point I even applied and interviewed to go on an international Wider Opportunity.  Had I been accepted I would have spent a month in India.  I didn't go, but a friend did and had amazing experiences.





 

During Senior scouts, our troop learned about clowning.  I kid you not!  We learned to apply the make-up and I sewed my own costume.  We visited nursing homes, throwing parties for the elderly residents.

  

My last year in scouting I earned the Gold Award.  It’s the Girl Scouts’ version of achieving the rank of Eagle Scout.  It’s a lot of work and a high honor.  To this day I'm proud of that accomplishment.

Today Girl Scouting just isn’t the same.  I understand it’s going to change.  The badges girls earn today are different than when I was involved, just as those are different from the ones earned by girls generations before me.  

Somewhere along the line, though, they began aligning themselves with organizations such as Planned Parenthood and George Soros' Media Matters.  At that point they lost me.

Too bad.  I’m going to miss those cookies!

AMDG