In the late 60’s and early 70’s my Mom and Mrs. Olmstead lead a rural 4-H club for our family and others in the farming community. I joined at the age of eight, the earliest you could join.
4‑H Pledge
I pledge my head to clearer thinking,
My heart to greater loyalty,
My hands to larger service,
and my health to better living,
for my club, my community, my country, and my world.
While I was in 4-H for nearly 10 years, I held every office: historian, secretary, treasurer, vice-president and president. 4-H taught me how to refinish furniture, cook, bake, design, sew and garden. My favorites were interior design and gardening. I also learned how to give “talks,” speaking and presenting in public. I guess you could say we learned practical hands-on life skills as well as leadership and service.
Recently the memory of making “tray favors” for nursing home residents came to mind. We assembled the little cups of mints, etc. at home and then took them to the facility where staff put them on the resident’s lunch trays. Since my Mom is now in a nursing home, I thought this Valentine’s Day I would replicate our favors by making valentines for my Mom and for the 30 residents she lives with. I plan to mail them and then Mom can hand them out. She was excited to hear about the plan and to see the ones I had made so far during our Zoom call last week. I think my former 4-H leader approved.
As I get older it is fun and exciting to remember some of the things I did in my youth. We tend to forget about these little memories like being in 4-H but they had such a profound impact on our lives.
Do you have a similar memory you now cherish? Please share.