Last week I e-mailed the Girl Scout (GS) office in my area. You see, Bridge came home from her Day Camp with the wrong patch, I was pretty sure of it. She came home with the big camp patch. I thought I recalled that you got the big Day/Twilight Camp Patch for first camp. Every Day/Twilight Camp thereafter you got a smaller sun/moon patch. I got an email and a phone call back . First saying she'd look into it. Second saying I was correct and she'd send Bridge the Sun Patch. This was a good thing.
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| Day/Twilight Camp Big Patch |
Today in the mail came a letter addressed to Bridge. It was from GS. I knew what it was. I opened it. Hubby said I shouldn't have opened it and let Bridge open it. I'll give him that. I should've. I put it back in the envelope just the way I found it. Found Bridge told her she had mail. That I was very sorry I opened it first.
What was in that envelope was more than just her patch. It was actual hand written note to Bridgette. Bridge has taken the letter and put it away for safe keeping. Saying she'll always remeber it. Seeing that look on my daughter's face made my day. Reading it to her because she's just learning to read, was an honor.
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| Sun Patch |
The Note Said:
Dear Bridgette,
I hope you had a Fantastic summer out at the Pecan Grove & Wildlife Trails Camps. Here is your sun patch you earned by going to 2 camps this summer.
In Girl Scouting,
(name signed here)
P.S. Hope to see you at Camp next year! =)
It's just a short note. Jotted down on GS note paper. But it was hand written and addressed to my daughter. Not to me. Not a form letter. Far more than sorry for the mistake and here's the correct patch.
When I went looking for the note to share with y'all I found it in the display cabinet shelf thing in the kids room. In front of a picture of me at about 6 (the age of Bridge) partially under a lady bug from some GS event, next to Sean's Disney Pixar Cars 2 cars, and partially under a small ceramic vase painted at a GS Meeting (she came home with the wrong vase but kept it anyway instead of demanding/asking to swap with the girl that had hers). It was neatly folded back up and placed with utmost care in a special place to Bridgette but on display for any and all who knew where to look.
I am now planning to get a Thank You card and have Bridge help me with it. I'll have her write a simple Thank You and I plan on being bit more detailed. A personal note with the patch deserves a personal note of thanks.
I think it's a shame how the lost art of letter/note writing is going by the wayside. Don't get me wrong, I totally love e-mail, texting, Twitter, and Facebook. Love technology. I love I can chat with people all over. Love that I can have a chat with my BFF that is a little less interrupted than a phone call. It touches my heart to have someone take that kind of time to write a note. It makes me glow when they do so for one of my kiddos. I'm also the kind that appreciates reading e books but adores the feel of a paper back in her hands.
Also I'm proud that this lady is just another teaching by example the GS Promise & GS Law. Which is not unique to GS by any means but in this day and age it's good to know that values still matter and are being reinforced by others not just parents.
The Girl Scout Promise
On my honor, I will try
To serve God and my country,
To help people at all times,
And to live by the Girl Scout Law.
The Girl Scout Law
I will do my best to be,
honest and fair,
friendly and helpful,
considerate and caring,
courageous and strong, and
responsible for what I say and do,
and to,
respect myself and others,
respect authority,
use resources wisely,
make the world a better place, and
be a sister to every Girl Scout.
May the art of note and letter writing with actual pen and paper never be lost. I know it will never be lost on my Bridgette. And us sending a Thank You card, will only reinforce that sometimes it matters to take the time to personally write something.
