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Outside Magazine February 2002
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Look Upon My Neckerchief and Know that I Am Eagle! (Cont.)

SIX MONTHS AFTER my Eagle deadline had passed, the woods were glowing with Yuletide cheer as we gathered around the family's annual Christmas bonfire for fireworks, singing, and speeches about everyone's achievements during the year. I was glowing as well, and not just because of the industrial-strength martini I'd served myself at dinner. In the circle were a number of my Virtual Counselors, and they were glowing too. Kitty read the speech I had prepared for her, in which she lauded my true grit and welcomed a new Eagle into the world. And then she surprised me by pinning a tiny gold eagle earring to the chest of my crisp new Boy Scout khakis. Instead of carols this year, I suggested, how about we do a few camp songs instead? After handing around some sheet music I'd copied from the 1963 Boy Scout Songbook, I led a lackluster rendition of "Home on the Range," and then "Red River Valley." Halfway through "Waltzing Matilda" slackers began to drift back to the house for a card game. As Kitty left I told her I would stay till the fire burned down. When everyone was gone I opened the songbook and squinted at the words. Except for the baying of a neighbor's hound, the woods were silent. Under the constellations I sang "Scout Vesper," to the tune of "O Tannenbaum."

Softly falls the light of day,
While our campfire fades away...
Have I done and have I dared,
Everything to be prepared?
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