I often think back to my childhood.
To be honest, not at a specific moment because I had a beautiful childhood and I collected many beautiful moments to take with me.
Sunday, I spent some time sitting on the desk and I found myself thinking, reflecting and also remembering and I retraced some of these moments.

But if I have to pick one, it was probably my first day at Scouts; I remember everything clearly, probably also because that was the moment that directed my life; a lot of my character was formed along the path of scouting.

If I think back to that day I remember that it was Saturday, already dark because it was early evening, I think it was November and still, I didn't have my uniform because we had to buy it which we would have done that same day after the meeting.
we started with a prayer and ended the same way, I always liked the prayer at the end of the meeting it was dedicated to the "Mother of Heaven" and we sang it; my relationship with religion has changed over time but, if I have to think about myself praying, I see myself doing it always singing, perhaps around the fire in the evening before returning to the tents.

I don't remember much of the whole meeting, what I remember perfectly is the initial game that served as a presentation, we "puppies" it was the first time we met in front of the "Fata morgana Pack" so a worthy ceremony was needed (in Scouting the masters of ceremonies there are many and I have always adored them all, perhaps because I love traditions) eh eh!
Of that and all the other meetings I remember that I always entered laughing and in the same way I left the office, going to the "lupetti" made me happy!

The part that remained clearest in me from that first day is that of the post-meeting we went with my parents to the warehouse where Bianca, our grandmother by marriage, was waiting for us, grandmother of all the scouts of the Reggio Calabria 1 group (and she is still today our sweet grandmother, we love her just like that and the more time passes the more we love her even today that we don't go to the scouts anymore).
She made me try on a blouse, trousers, belt, all obviously much larger than my size because in those days clothes were bought in large sizes so that they could be used for longer; shorts and shirts from when I was 16/17 I still have them and they fit me wonderfully and moreover they are still in perfect condition (if you think that at least 25 years have passed, I would say that he is not too bad!); if I think back to that moment I can still smell the leather belt in my nose.
I remember that the warehouse was full of accessories that I adored, my world of toys; I bought many badges even if not all of them I could immediately put on my smock, the sleeping bag (I had two, the one I still use today when I go hiking and the one I used to wear when I was a wolf cub) and the "big rucksack" (even those I had two, the first years as a wolf cub I had the one with the steel structure it fit everything but it wasn't very comfortable to walk in fact, in the years of the clan, I switched to a more comfortable one with the plastic structure) to conclude my father gave me the hat that is used in the Clan (practically the clan is the group of boys that goes from 16 years old until the day in which you choose whether to continue your Scout path by serving in the association or continuing outside), obviously the I could put it later in time... but it was a good omen (today it's kept in my parents' house in the memory closet).

Going back to that day is truly beautiful and, even now that I am doing it, as I write, I realize that it has a healing power for me, a smile on my face spontaneously arises and gratitude for the life I have in my heart had; like everyone there have been difficulties but I have had many beautiful moments of joy and happiness and if I have to be honest many are linked to my scout life.

Well today I'll stop here, also because if I continue I think the tears will drop eh eh!
Feel free to leave any comments or thoughts you see fit below!

Hug you!

English is not my first language but I try, please forgive any errors.