Jaci Dawn

I find odd things of Levi’s. One time, there were the mutilated Little Green Army Men. I almost put them in a box for him to show his children when they grew up, but thought better of it and quietly disposed of them. Who wants to know their dad mutilated hapless Little Green Army Men?

Then there are the notes. Or the cards he made me. I found one such card that said, simply, “The computer was down so I drew a card for you. Happy Birthday Mom.”

I have a May Day card from him that shows an airplane going into a spin and a frightened pilot frantically calling on the radio. “MAY DAY MAY DAY MAY DAY!”

In my search for Arwen’s baby things and my mother’s heirloom Easter dress, I uncovered items that perhaps are not Levi’s fondest memories: Cub Scout memorabilia.

I think he liked  Cub Scouts, but he burned out on Boy Scouts. For years, we left our house on Tuesday night, drove over to pick up Levi’s buddy, Evan, and then drove into town for Den meetings. Evan and Levi sang silly songs and drove us nuts. Don was Cub Master, so we couldn’t escape the meetings.

There were Regattas and Pine Car Derbies, camp outs, and Jamborees. There was the ER visit the year Levi decided to find out what happens when a nail pierces your wrist. (You get a tetanus shot if you don’t sever an artery.) And there was the ever popular craft, usually sponsored by Martha Stewart. The Den mothers found it amusing that my husband relied heavily on Martha Stewart for inspiration. I think he earned a reputation as a Renaissance Man: all hunting and came, but able to sit down and read Martha Stewart magazine from front to back, and do the crafts on top.

And there was the moose. He was the flag stand: there’s a hole in the top of his head where the American flag goes, so the boys could salute and repeat the Pledge of Allegiance while staring at this ridiculous moose. (I commandeered the moose for Christmas decorations after Levi left Scouting.)

Over the weekend, I found more Cub Scout memorabilia.

Don’s Den Master shirt.

Levi’s Cub Scout shirt, with all of his patches, pins, sash, bandana, ribbons, and so on. His entire Cub Scout history..

At some point, the boys moved on from the moose and became The Ravens. I made this banner for them.

I cut out the raven and appliqued it to the banner (he’s actually in several smaller pieces, quilt-like). The sun behind him is also applique.

I hate to sew, and cannot imagine taking the time to do this now. It was all done on my mother’s antique Singer Featherweight sewing machine (straight stitch only). It’s a heavy banner.

Troop 161 in Mulino still exists. But this banner was particular to the boys who were there when my son was in Scouts and belonged – like the moose – to them. And now it belongs to Levi.

I hope he at least keeps that raven. That was a lot of work for a woman who hates to sew!