Tonight, just as we were sitting down to dinner, I noticed out the window a young person running up the driveway towards two of our neighbors homes. A car seemed to be shadowing this young person, and I suspected that our home would be next to have its doorbell rung by this young person.

I was right. The child and the corresponding car visited our house next.

And, I was pleasantly surprised when our door was opened to a boyscout, in uniform, offering popcorn for sale.

This is the second time we have been approached by scouts to buy fund raising popcorn, and each time I have been impressed by the boy at our door. What a pleasant experience to talk to a kid who can carry on a conversation, look you in the eye, answer a simple question, or two or three, and has pride in his appearance and his associations. I even remember the young scout who visited our last home, so that must have been three years ago at least, his name was Tristan and he delivered a thank you letter with the popcorn.

This was what I wanted for LD when we signed her up for Girl Scouts several years ago. Unfortunately, the Girl Scouts were more interested in makeup (yes, among 4th graders), doughnut breakfasts, and general cattiness. The girls were rude to each other. They were not interested in learning new skills, or cleaning up after themselves, or really earning a badge. It was more about crying when expected to do anything, or calling one another names, or eating sugar.

Perhaps this is why you don't see many girls selling Girl Scout cookies door to door anymore. You really only get to buy the cookies from the parents these days. The girls are all prima donas whojust wear the Girl Scout sash on delivery day or do a token run-through the office with mom. I had the pleasure of turning down a Girl Scout selling cookies in the office and once I said "no", the kid had no pretense of manners.

What a user.