Yesterday (well technically it's Monday so I should say 2 days ago, Saturday evening), my youngest son Jacob (10) and I attended the Cub Scouts Pinewood Derby. This is an event where cub scouts of all ages race a little larger than palm-sized cars down a sloped track. The cars are constructed from a wood block, 4 axles (they're really just nails) and 4 BSA wheels. Ok so I got lazy and bought a pre-cut car (which is allowed, you just have to use the axles and wheels from the BSA kit). Jacob painted it all up and I helped get the decals on, and Bruce got the weights put on for us, so it was a real family effort! I am in no way talented enough to actually carve or cut a car shape out of that block of wood, so we buy a pre-cut car every year.
Well let me explain about ranks first. The first rank is Tiger, then Wolf, then Bear, then Webelos 1 then Webelos 2. Jacob is a Webelos 1. His Tiger and Wolf years, he won first place in his class/rank and advanced to district. His Bear year, he didn't place at all and was so disappointed he didn't even want to race this year (he is an overachiever and takes winning at everything very seriously, yes yes I know, setting himself up for some hard times in life). I convinced him that although he may not win, it's still important to attend Scout events and show support for his pack, and that he'd regret it if he didn't at least try. So off to the races we went.
He ended up winning 2nd place in his rank/class, and 4th place overall! He was 1/1000th of a second from being 3rd place overall, and he took it very hard because he wanted that trophy! I told him that to be 4th overall out of about 100 kids or so, was EXCELLENT and he should be proud of himself! I think it was exhaustion setting in on him, but he said he didn't want to race next year. I want him to because it'll be his last year as a cub scout before he crosses over to Boy Scouts. I kept talking to him and telling him I was extremely proud of him and all that he's accomplished in scouting. I know one day he'll make Eagle, which is the highest and most prestigious rank you can earn in Boy Scouts. I took him to the local Chinese buffet as a celebratory dinner, and that seemed to perk him up a bit. He asked me if I was disappointed in him not winning 1st again, and I said "Absolutely not!" I'm so proud that he managed to place, AND set a track record!
Plus, for completely selfish reasons, I'm kinda glad he didn't win first, because that means I'd have to suck up to my boss and beg yet another Saturday off for him to go to District Derby, and I'm out of vacation days until April. So I'm walking a very fine line with asking for days off as it is! Anyway, that's my brag for tonight, I think I know what we need to do to get a faster car for next year. I'd briefly considered buying one off Ebay that was a proven winner, but it wouldn't have been the same because the whole point is for the boy to do the work with himself and his mom/dad/guardian/family.
I think I figured out how to upload my pictures from my Blackberry to my Flickr account and from Flickr to Photobucket, so here goes a shot at getting a pic in here: This is Jacob holding his 2nd place medal and ribbon:
I'll add a picture of the car some other time.
I'm so proud of my boy!
Melissa
