There’s a feeling that you sometimes get,
One you will know when it happens again.
The hair may stand on the back of your neck,
It can happen to both women and to men.
Your face may tingle, your voice may quiver.
Your eyes might water, you gasp for air.
Up and down your spine might run a shiver.
Maybe you’ve been touched by someone up there!
A shudder may run up and down you inside.
Perhaps your stomach tightens, your nose might run.
Maybe it’s just a case of good old American pride;
Or just a case of being out too long in the sun!
You’ll know when it comes; it might make you grin.
The goose bumps on your arms could be a clue.
It’s what some might call the "chicken skin".
You can hear your heart pounding, when it happens to you!
You might say you have something in your eye,
Reach for a tissue because it’s windy today.
After all, grown people don’t really cry,
Or at least that’s what you’re supposed to say!
So when you get this feeling of the "chicken skin",
Go with that feeling and remember it well.
Because you will want to have it again and again,
It only means you are Human, but I’ll never tell!
Girl Scouts, Dogwood Trails, and we hit the Nature Trail,
and those Girl Scouts go rolling along.
Outdoor fun, cookery, now that’s the life for me,
while those Girl Scouts go rolling along.
For it’s Yi, Yi, Yee, in leader’s company,
Count off your Brownies loud and strong!
When to Leader’s Weekend we go, you will always know,
that those Girl Scouts go rolling along.
Skits and songs, crafts and food, it’ll all be so good,
as those Girl Scouts go rolling along.
Campfires, swaps and games, learn a hundred leaders’ names,
while those Girl Scouts go rolling along.
For it’s Yi, Yi, Yee, in leader’s company,
Count off your Juniors loud and strong!
When to Leader’s Weekend we go, you will always know,
that those Girl Scouts go rolling along.
And those Girl Scouts go rolling along!
Ralph Lowrey
There’s a tool for outdoors that we should already know,
And we should take it down the trail whenever we go.
You may even find it by the side of the trail for you to pick,
It can be your trusty companion...that sturdy hiking stick.
For as many uses, the bandana may still have far more,
But my hiking stick will rival it with uses galore.
The bandana, alone, is just some brightly colored rag,
But tied to my stick it, becomes an emergency signal flag.
It’s a cane to be used for support by such an old man,
Or to help him get up from the ground whenever he stands.
Used to catch fish when tied with line, bait and hook,
Or to write and scratch in the dirt to get you to look.
The hobo’s lunch is tied to the end before we go,
And it can be used to stir fires that are burning too slow.
When used as probe to walk out in front while on the trail,
You can check for unseen critters and not step on their tail.
When used as a yoke to carry buckets of water up the road,
Or across ones shoulders to help even out the load.
To pull you to shore when you fall in waters too deep,
Or grab a hold and pull you up from some cliff too steep.
You can use a blanket to make a stretcher with two of these,
Or wrapped to your legs as a splint to not bend your knees.
The agile person will vault over small streams to not get wet,
And hold back barb wire while crossing fences, still better yet.
It’s shadow, when wisely used, will tell time and help find your way,
And you can use it to point at the stars and things far away.
When my jack knife is tied to the end for a spear,
Or held in the right manner it’s a weapon you should fear.
A game can be played with it, and it’s called Limbo,
And a troop of small Brownies all under it will go.
When lashed to a tree it becomes a handy towel rack,
Or my tent or lean-to pole when it’s time to unpack.
Cooking over my campfire to hold my cast iron pot,
Ignited with fire on the end as a torch when it’s not.
So walk softly when you do, and carry one of these,
And make your outdoor life one to live with such ease.
Ralph Lowrey
Hello daughter, Hello hubby
Here I am at Leader’s Weekend
The weather here if very frightening
Several leaders were hit by lightning.
I went hiking with Mother Nature
And they carried me out on a stretcher
You remember Amy Miller
Some of the food here almost killed her.
All of the leaders are sore and bruised
And our committee was so amused
And the chiggers bite like a bear
We itch and scratch at our underwear.
One of our workshops in the shed
Was run off by a copperhead
Both my bunkmates partied all night
Chasing naugas with their flashlight.
(Chorus)
Take me home, oh daughter, hubby
Take me home, I feel so buggy
Don’t leave me out in these woods where
I might get spiders in my hair.
Take me home, I promise to wash the dishes
Do the laundry, fulfill all of your wishes.
Oh please don’t make me stay
I just can’t camp another day.
Dearest daughter, darling hubby
I am feeling so very buggy
Let me come home from this ordeal
I will even cook your every meal.
Wait a minute, leaders are singing.
And the insects have all stopped stinging.
Doing crafts, gee that’s not so awful
Daughter, hubby kindly disregard my phone call.
Ralph Lowrey
I got that good feeling again today.
I showed a young girl something new.
Now she will remember just what to do.
As her Leader, yes I was paid,
By the light in her eyes,
And the smile that she made.
I got that good feeling again today.
I joined a committee and was able to share,
My ideas and my life with Leaders that care.
And you know, I made another new friend.
To share the stories and laughter,
I can’t wait to go do it again!
I got that good feeling again today.
I was able to train a Leader who is new,
So she can lead girls in her troop, too.
I learned how to praise that new Leader,
Build up her confidence,
And let her know how much we need her.
I got that good feeling again today.
I feel I am part of the team,
Making a difference by living the dream.
You can change people, if you only try,
Bring out the good in all of them,
To get that good feeling again, is why.
Ralph Lowrey
Written for Rolla Program Conference
Honoring the Past...Celebrating the Future
Rolla, Missouri - March 23, 2002