When I was 13 years old, I was elected patrol leader by my fellow Boy Scouts. In addition to my many other responsibilities, I was required to choose a name for our patrol and create a flag.
I chose The Gumby Patrol.
Gumby was a claymation character featured in a television series that ran from 1953-1969 who experienced a revival of sorts in the 1980s after Eddie Murphy’s famous Gumby sketches on Saturday Night Live. Reruns of the original show returned briefly to television, and a new Gumby show was also aired.
Gumby merchandise, for a brief moment, was everywhere. Clothing. Toys. Lunchboxes. The works.
I fell in love with Gumby during that revival. I watched the original show. Memorized the theme song. Even bought a couple of tee shirts.
Naming my new patrol after Gumby seemed like a no-brainer.
It really wasn’t.
At the time (and even today), most Boy Scouts named their patrols after imposing animals like bears, hawks, tigers, and eagles, usually accompanied by an equally imposing adjective.
Terrible Tiger Patrol
Angry Bear Patrol
Steely-Eyed Eagle Patrol
The choice of name typically attempted to indicate the toughness of the Scouts and their likelihood of success in the challenges that lie ahead.
I chose to do something very different in choosing my name. The Gumby Patrol was far less imposing than a traditional patrol name, a little bit silly, and slightly ironic, as were so many of my choices when I was young.
When I could do something differently, I usually did.
While my fellow Scouts supported the idea, the name caused my Scoutmaster to roll his eyes upon hearing it.
Making my Scoutmaster’s eyes roll was one of my finest talents.
But that flag, almost 40 years old, still exists today, ribbons and all. It somehow survived my many moves and a brief bout with homelessness and had been waiting in the basement for the day, earlier this month, when Charlie became responsible for helping to name his new Scout patrol and making a flag of his own.
In keeping with family tradition, Charlie also avoided a traditionally imposing name, going instead with Exploding Turtle Patrol.
Not exactly a fictional clay creature with a pony pal named Pokie, but not too far off, either.
Unlike my flag, which was made from cloth and a black marker, Charlie’s flag is far more elaborate, with sewn pieces of fabric and fancy letters.
Still, both flags are leaning together in a corner of our living room right now, another reminder of how some things really do come full circle in life.
