This morning while talking to a friend I learned that some of the boys at Bear Lake might come home because they were home sick. Part of me hoped it was Tyler. I miss him. But the other part hoped that if he could just make it this week, it wouldn't be so hard the next time. The reality is, Tyler is fine, I'm the one who misses him and am anxious for his arrival home.
A few hours later I missed a call from his scout leader. Because it was so late in the afternoon I didn't figure that he was coming home but that he may be injured, broken leg or a burn or something, or maybe his leader was letting Tyler call me just to say hello because he knew I was missing him. I called back immediately. His sweet scout leader was calling to save me the worry and heart ache of knowing that my son was having fun and was fine, but there was 12yr. old boy who drowned at the camp they're at and he didn't want me to worry when I caught word of it.
I think back to the movie "A League Of Their Own". A telegram comes to tell one of the players their husband has been killed in war. As the telegram passes each woman, they have an overwhelming sense of relief while at the same time sadness knowing another will get the bad news. They can all identify with each other the anguish that's coming. That is how I feel today.
I'm grateful that Tyler gets to have this week long camp trip. I'm sure he's having a blast and hasn't given home a second thought. I know he's gaining lots of new experiences and having a sense of freedom he hasn't ever experience before. I'm excited for him and I wouldn't change sending him. I also feel good knowing the leaders he's with will do all they can to look out for him.
My heart goes out to the family and scout troop that will forever be changed.
