Pop Quiz

I attended an Eagle Court Sunday evening. Remarkable young man; I was honored to be there.  They did something I’ve never seen before. When filling the “eagle’s nest,” they asked us each to come to the microphone and state our name and the year we attained the eagle rank. He said it was a pop quiz.

Uh oh.

No, I didn’t have a problem remembering the year. I know the exact date. December 22, 1979. (I was 5,353 days old.) I even know the date of my board of review: October 26^th. It was my half birthday and my mom’s due date, but the baby didn’t come for two more weeks.

I think I was good with the quiz. I was walking well enough not to create a spectacle, but that thought did cross my mind. The father of the eagle went first. He is a year older than me but he was 1982. I then realized the only drawback I’ve ever felt for earning my rank at a relatively young age. I was going to sound older than I am!  But no time to worry about that, it was my turn. I barely croaked out my name and year and then was glad to find a seat in the nest. Who would have ever imagined that such a simple little thing could be such a challenge!  It is just weird.  Talking?  Most people do it without a thought.  I even did for four decades.

A few minutes later a friend of mine said his name, 1988, and then added, “and I can’t believe Dave Hixon is so old!”

I was so glad he said that! Not only did it mean that I was intelligible but that he realizes that even though I walk like I’m 80 and sound like "near death," I am neither and I can still take some ribbing. I had to smile.