The Rain Poncho

I was busily preparing for my first Girl Scout Camping trip. I went through the hand typed check list that had been sent home with us.

1. Sleeping bag. “Check. And it’s a groovy leopard print.”
2. Toothbrush and Toothpaste. “Check and check. Whatever. I still have all of my baby teeth. They’re gonna fall out anyway. So embarrassing.”
3. Rain Poncho. “Oh no. (yelling) Mom, I don’t have a rain poncho!”

I had a rather artsy mom. She decided that she would hand craft a rain poncho for me, for this special trip. So, she went to the store and purchased a round, orange print tablecloth. It was bedecked with orange fringe. She cut a circle in the middle, and sewed some orange bric-a-brac around the neck hole for a fancy tie. She then plopped this thing over my head, and stepped back to admire her handiwork. “Perfect” she said. “Mom, it’s a tablecloth.” She went on to explain how it would not only keep the rain off of me, but keep me warm as well, what with the flannel backing and all. Well, I had to admit that it wasn’t all bad, as it had excellent twirling capabilities. Still, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was wearing a tablecloth. So, I sent up a few “Hail Marys”, good Catholic girl that I was, praying for clear skies.

The time came for the big campout. It didn’t rain. It flooded. Out came the rain poncho. In all of it’s orange glory. I tried to be a good sport about All The Teasing. But one skinny, snotty, braces wearing little comic just wouldn’t let it rest. I did what any good Girl Scout would do. I threw her gloves down the latrine. And I may or may not have accidentally set her sleeping bag on fire (once the rain let up). It’s not like she was actually in it. Laughing girl learned to keep her opinions to herself after that. And to always pack a fire-retardant sleeping bag. While my peers admired my scrappiness, the scouting leader had a different view. My chances at the coveted camping badge went up in smoke.

As a side note, later that summer my mother went on to make me a gold lame’ bikini. I had to put my tiny foot down about wearing that at the public pool. Who knows what measures I would have had to take to uphold my reputation. So, I told her it was too itchy.

Nearly four decades later, I now have two scouting age girls. I managed to steer them away from joining the Girl Scouts. I believe that I may still be banned. My daughters are members of American Heritage Girls, which is a national Christian scouting troop. Their first scouting campout is scheduled for next May. And in a fun twist to this particular group, family members are required to attend. Two nights worth. I haven’t camped out since that ill-fated trip all those many years ago.

Frankly, at my age, I’m not a “sleep in a tent on the ground” kind of gal. So, being the good Girl Scout that I am was, I want to be prepared. Today, I took my girls to the RV Sales lot. We called it a field trip. Now, there is no way we will be purchasing an RV for this event, but it’s always good to dream. I can just picture myself pulling up to the American Heritage Girls campsite in a RV, singing ‘Kumbya’ while ordering a pizza on my cell phone. Since I was the practical one of the three of us at RV World, I selected a modest pop-up camper, complete with a bathroom and microwave. My girls preferred the large rock star style bus, with bunk beds, fireplace, and a full size plasma TV. Perhaps we’ve lost touch with the spirit of camping. Just a tad.

I really don’t know what we’ll do about our accommodations next May. But, I’d better get started making those rain ponchos. It’s awfully stormy here in Florida in the merry month of May.