It was my dream to make the trip to Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico. It was a dream too far. At that age everything is pulling you in all directions. The cost was prohibitive since there was no way to make money except by slaving away at a pitiful excuse for work. Even that would not have provided the basic cost to Philmont.
I was invited to go on a road trip to Seattle by the Buck family. That gave me a taste of a history as we toured. I was such a Cowpoke fan. Only later, I learned that most cowboys were outlaws. Uncle Ralph gave me a book about Cowboys of the old West.
I settled for a life of poverty and labor like any good Southern boy. I was determined to suceed like my older brother. I became a student at the University of New Orleans because I thought it would help me achieve my goals. It did not. I was interested in other things besides a Science discipline which is the only way to find work in the oil industry. I was not a smart boy just a writer and a poet. Calculus was my downfall. Volume estimates are essential in the oil field
I settled for a life of poverty and labor like any good Southern boy. I was determined to suceed like my older brother. I became a student at the University of New Orleans because I thought it would help me achieve my goals. It did not. I was interested in other things besides a Science discipline which is the only way to find work in the oil industry. I was not a smart boy just a writer and a poet. Calculus was my downfall. Volume estimates are essential in the oil field
My brother had the smarts to become a geologist for the oil companies based in New Orleans. Hard work was not my strength. Injured oilfield roustabouts were all over the place. The University was a candy store with endless choices that never make you happy. Outside of school, things were pulling at me like girlfriends and music.
The war in Vietnam was the biggest obstacle I faced . The draft was waiting to cart me off to war. If you fall below the 2.2 point in the grading system, you are draftable. When I took the physical my eyes kept me out the draft. I was given a 4F deferment. Hallelujah I'm a bum again.
R.R. Eckart was our Scoutmaster. He worked as a lead geologist which gave him time to be the Scoutmaster of Troop 87. I learned a lot from this man. His leadership was immpeccible, well planned and spontaneous. His family supported everything he did concerning the nurturing of young Scouts. He was an outstanding Methodist and parent. He once went charging through our encampment screaming at the top of his lungs carrying our troop banner. We joined him since he was going somewhere. It did not matter where since he was leading. It could have been a Civil War movie for all the drama created. I introduced my older brother to him since he was becoming a geologist. Networking is the way to go. I got Duke to join the BSA.
R.R. Eckart was our Scoutmaster. He worked as a lead geologist which gave him time to be the Scoutmaster of Troop 87. I learned a lot from this man. His leadership was immpeccible, well planned and spontaneous. His family supported everything he did concerning the nurturing of young Scouts. He was an outstanding Methodist and parent. He once went charging through our encampment screaming at the top of his lungs carrying our troop banner. We joined him since he was going somewhere. It did not matter where since he was leading. It could have been a Civil War movie for all the drama created. I introduced my older brother to him since he was becoming a geologist. Networking is the way to go. I got Duke to join the BSA.
We camped in a Forest Reserve with many logging skidpaths and slash piles to hide behind. We were playing war games. We divided into teams. It soon got out of hand. Scouts were making spears and setting traps. We were living out the Lord of the Flies. The running was exhausting. What we experienced that day was how it feels to go to war. Lucky no one got hurt. Tempers were flaring and things got testy. Darkness quelled the anger. Soon we were back to scouting, getting ready for dinner over the open coals of a well built fire.
Our weekend camping trips were educational. We set up our camp in the backwaters of the Gulf Coast of short leaf pine and boggy swamps. The fishing was good in these bogs. The frogs set forth with a mighty chorus of croaks and grunts as the sun sets on our Southern paradise. We found carnivorous plants such as the sun dew and pitcher plant native to America. How they got to the Gulf Coast from South Carolina is anyone's guess. They were growing in the seldom visited backwaters of our coastline, in all their sticky glory.
Our weekend camping trips were educational. We set up our camp in the backwaters of the Gulf Coast of short leaf pine and boggy swamps. The fishing was good in these bogs. The frogs set forth with a mighty chorus of croaks and grunts as the sun sets on our Southern paradise. We found carnivorous plants such as the sun dew and pitcher plant native to America. How they got to the Gulf Coast from South Carolina is anyone's guess. They were growing in the seldom visited backwaters of our coastline, in all their sticky glory.
We tried everything to make ourselves immune from poison ivy. We heard that you could eat a leaf of poison ivy wrapped in bread to stimulate the immune response. This is ancient Indian lore. It works to some degree.
We perfected campfire cookery by pre-packaging our dinners in aluminum foil. All we had to do was toss it in the coals of the evening fire. We never washed a pan or opened a can out in the wilderness. The coffee pot was always hot. This was the welcome sign to visitors who wanted to know us. Scouts are that friendly.
The mosquitoes were horrendous. Some of the ways to get relief was to build a smoky fire then smother it with Spanish moss. Soon though, the mosquitoes would be all over you looking for that special place to drill. The richer scouts bought repellent which soon washes off with sweat. The Indians caked mud all over their body which was a fine solution. Who wants to be that dirty all the time? We struggled on with this huge problem. We discovered jungle hammocks with mosquito netting. After all, you get to lay down. You still have interesting conversations with your buddies. In the evening when the onshore winds blew, it took most of the mozzies down to the ground. We were safe for awhile.
The mosquitoes were horrendous. Some of the ways to get relief was to build a smoky fire then smother it with Spanish moss. Soon though, the mosquitoes would be all over you looking for that special place to drill. The richer scouts bought repellent which soon washes off with sweat. The Indians caked mud all over their body which was a fine solution. Who wants to be that dirty all the time? We struggled on with this huge problem. We discovered jungle hammocks with mosquito netting. After all, you get to lay down. You still have interesting conversations with your buddies. In the evening when the onshore winds blew, it took most of the mozzies down to the ground. We were safe for awhile.
No comments:
Post a Comment