TIGER CUB PACK 41 1/8

Received an invitation from Mr. Gerald Seman, Assistant Den Leader of South Williamsport's Tiger Cub Pack 41 to come in and give a little 'show and tell' about my year in Iraq with the Army. The Tigers were just finishing up an arts and crafts activity when I arrived, and I was asked whether I wanted to start in right away, or wait until snack time was over. Seeing the way some of the boys were salivating over the box of chocolate cupcakes, I thought that waiting would be wiser - as a public speaker, I know the dangers of being upstaged by a force greater than myself. A younger audience than I usually have, but we had an engaging discussion and I think the boys got a kick out of some of my souvenirs: some Iraqi money, an election ballot, a Saddam cigarette lighter and a couple of Arabic magazines. One of the boys impressed me with his ability to decipher the Arabic numbers off the money - maybe there's a merit badge for that. I have to say I enjoyed being back in a Scouting environment; I got all fired up when they announced their upcoming Pinewood Derby - remembering my own Derby victory of long ago with a poorly carved chunk of a car I dubbed The Red Dragon. My thanks to Jerry and the Tiger Cubs of South Williamsport! Be Prepared...