13 feb 2012

back in the day, i was totally into earning scout merit badges. i earned six, maybe eight. what? yes, i was totally into it. i said i was totally into it, and that's what i meant. i was totally into it. in addition to being totally into it, i was easily distracted.

i adored the little lists and how you'd check them off, get your scoutmaster to initial the little space beside each item. everything so clear cut. do this, get that. there wasn't any mystery about what you needed to do. it was all right there in the book, all the requirements, right there in the book. you could freaking carry that book around with you, have it with you all the time, be ready at any moment to meet some requirement and qualify yourself a little closer to your goals.

i didn't carry the book around. i got it out once a week for meetings, maybe a couple other times. i remember sitting at the kitchen counter, staring at all the lines, seeing right there what was required, but not having any idea how to accomplish it.