I was a cub scout. I remember proudly asking my mother to sew the badges on my uniform as I progressed through the ranks: lion, tiger, wolf, bear, and Webelos. I never knew why the four diamond-shaped badges all fit together and were named after animals, and the next rank was a strange made-up word. It comes from WE’ll BE LOyal Scouts. After Cub Scouts, I made it through Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class before I became distracted and dropped out of the scouting program. I never was much for the uniforms and paramilitary rank system. I did enjoy the camping and outdoor activities. One of the things I remember most about my years as a scout, however, has nothing to do with the ranks or even the activities. Paying my scout dues meant I was subscribed to Boy’s Life Magazine. I read a few of the articles, but the section at the back with all of the ads got my attention each month when the magazine arrived.

I poured over those ads. There were always wonderful things that could be bought by sending money to companies in other states. I was saving up for the Air Powered Hover Craft until I discovered it was a cheap plastic toy you couldn’t actually ride on. I was very disappointed in my $2.49 Pocket Spy Telescope. I sent cash, including pennies, in a regular envelope for that one. It came and was much smaller than the photo. The cheap plastic lenses didn’t work as a telescope. I never ordered the police-style chrome-plated handcuffs, the smoke grenades, or the water-powered watch, but I considered them and read their ads multiple times. For 25 cents, you could order information on developing muscles in days from the Charles Atlas Company in New York City. One of my little brothers shelled out a couple of dollars for Sea Monkeys, but I don’t think he succeeded in growing any. My father talked us out of ordering the $12.98 Chick-hatcher complete with four quail eggs. It didn’t take much because we didn’t even have the $9.95 for the hatcher without eggs. He did, however, candle a few chicken eggs, and we hatched them under a heat lamp he rigged for us. The chicks were put in with our annual order of chicks. I assume they ended up in the freezer in the fall, but I didn’t keep track of individual chickens. He also vetoed the live chameleon for $3.95.

There were pages and pages of gags, including smoke bombs, realistic-looking gross flies, chocolate bar squirt guns, whoopee cushions, handshake buzzers, magic jumping beans, exploding fountain pens, fake police badges, fake dog poop, and informative booklets on mind-reading, throwing your voice, and card tricks. Most of them sold for less than a dollar. You could buy 200 used stamps for a dollar and start your valuable stamp collection.

I wrote letters for free paper airplane, hobby, and toy catalogs to enjoy receiving mail with my name on it.

I considered responding to the ads for the “Draw Me” school. The ads featured a cartoon donkey. We raised donkeys, and I couldn’t draw a picture resembling a donkey. I wasn’t very good at drawing anything. A friend and I tried for a couple of weeks to make realistic drawings of airplanes. We walked two miles to the airport and two miles back to town several times to look at the airplanes. He produced some pretty good drawings. I tried to imitate his style, but my drawings didn’t look like airplanes. When he began sketching pilots' faces in his airplanes, I gave up. He became an excellent cabinet maker with a very artistic eye. I became a preacher who learned how to use clip art for church newsletters. I’m sure that drawing school would have been a waste of money in my case.

I'm sure that part of the drawing skill comes from practice, but the excellent artists I’ve known also have a great deal of natural ability. My sister-in-law's art inspires me. One of her paintings is a treasured item in our home. She can sit with a pencil and paper and sketch realistic people, flowers, and other subjects.

This week is spring break for our grandchildren, and we have been spending a lot of time with our granddaughters. Their older brother is serving as a page in the state legislature this week, and his mother and younger brother are in Olympia. The girls spend their days with us while their father works. Yesterday, we visited the tulip fields with them. I took my camera and took pictures of the flowers and a few photos of the girls with the flowers. The girls took notebooks and pencils and sketched tulips. The tulips were terrific. The girls’ drawings were equally impressive. They love to draw and have plenty of art supplies. I think that they also learn a lot from each other. They often draw together and talk about what they are drawing. They draw pictures in anime style and are very good at realistic drawings. The older sister has won several art contests with her drawings.

Many artists amaze me with abilities that far exceed my own. I am amazed at the skill and artistry of concert pianists. I can play the piano, but I have never gained the skill to play complex pieces gracefully. I am also amazed at many of the arts we see at festivals and markets.

However, admiring our grandchildren's art is a step beyond being impressed with artistic skill. Our grandchildren are our future. It means a lot to know that there will be art that lasts beyond our lives and that we have a very tiny part in nurturing that art. I may be unable to draw, but I’ve taken my granddaughters to the store to buy drawing paper and pencils. My tiny investment pays off with a bountiful supply of inspirational art. I hope that the girls continue to find joy in drawing and painting. They are lifelong skills that bring joy to others as well.