My husband, JD, met two special friends through Boy Scouts – when all three boys were in junior high, about 40 years ago.  One friend, DW, he met when their Scout troops participated in an adventure together and eventually, DW joined JD’s troop.  The other friend, ST, he met at Bear Creek Scout Reservation in Hunt, Texas.  JD was in charge of something to do with the commissary and ST was one of his staff members.  They both worked at that Scout camp for two additional summers – again, both while in junior high school.

Once the boys found their joint friendship footing, their dads got together and met each other.  JD’s dad and DW’s dads were very involved in their Scout troop and ST’s dad was involved in ST’s troop.

Over the course of their Boy Scout tenure, these three men (the Dads) were awarded the “Silver Beaver” awards.  These awards are the highest awards given to Boy Scout volunteers and the individual councils are only allowed to award a certain number of “Silver Beavers” each year.

The Silver Beaver Award is used to recognize registered Scouters of exceptional character who have provided distinguished service within a council.

For three men who were heavily involved in their son’s Boy Scout adventures and who knew each other or volunteered together, the odds of each one of them being awarded “Silver Beavers” is an unfathomable percentage.  Amazing.

JD, DW and ST were joined at the hip when two or three got together.  They were partners in crime, had each other’s backs and shared many lies around campfires.  JD was in DW’s wedding party.  JD changed many-a-diaper of ST’s two children.

But their friendship didn’t stop there.  One by one, each of these boys married and had children.  Once the wives met each other, we became friends, too.  And our relationships with each other’s family’s followed suit.  We don’t send birthday cards to each other nor do we really converse all that often.  But we have all worked hard to be present at everyone’s milestones.  For instance, DW’s wife was pregnant with their second child not long after I met her so I was able to participate in her baby shower.  I made the new baby a quilt (no surprise there!).  What is significant about this is that this is the first of these friends who I made a baby quilt for and then made a high school graduation quilt for!  We attended funerals together and weddings, Boy Scout Eagle ceremonies and many summers during my husband’s (maternal-side) family reunions.

All of our kids call these two friends uncle and theirs do the same for my husband.  We are one big happy family.

We know that if anyone needed anything, all anyone has to do was ask.

The kids who were older when I met the families also received quilts, one for a high school graduation and two for wedding gifts.  Next in line is my own kids’ graduations.  And I have no doubt that those friends will be at the celebrations of our own kids’, if at all possible.

Now, 40 years later, we came together for the funeral of the last Dad of the group.  JD’s father passed away in 1997.  DW’s father left us in about 2005.  ST’s dad went to his just reward last weekend.

And like always, all of us who were able to attend the funeral were there.  JD recited a Boy Scout prayer at the funeral and both JD and DW (as well as our son) all wore their Boy Scout uniforms.  These Scouts showed their respect one last time to a very special Dad.

As I think of the friendships that we all have together, I cannot come up any family or friends that “I” have who I share this type of friendship with.  Oh sure, I have some family I still talk to, send cards to, pray for.  And I have a few long-time friends who are a distant part of my life – especially because none of them live close to me and I have visited a few of them over the years but none of them have ever visited me.  A lot of that is probably because of me, so I will take that one to heart.  But nothing like my husband and his two forever friends has.

Is there a moral to this (not so much quilting) story?  For me, there certainly is:  When you fan the fires of friendship, it takes both sides to work together to make the fire last.  It takes a whole lot of patience, time, laughter and love.  And it is such a fabulous example to all of our children, to really be a part of these friendships throughout the years.