I always wanted to send this "short story" to the list. Chicken Soup for the
soul.
My first trek to Philmont was back in '98 as an advisor for the Northwest
Suburban Council -the suburbs around O'Hare Airport. I enjoyed my trek
immensely and have taken some more NWSC Scouts, including both my son and daughter,
back to Philmont since then. Philmont sure does get into your blood !!
For a living I sell process equipment (fluid mixers to be exact) and I have
all kinds of accounts and of course all kinds of different customers. Nice
customers and not so nice customers. They can be temperamental, ornery, kind,
fair, etc....etc... and of course if you talk to sales guys long enuff, you
discover that they have a couple of customers who they will never forget
because they are just down right "fill-in-the-blanks." Cranky just might be a
kind description here -very kind if you get my drift....
When I got back from Philmont my "cranky" customer was on the phone the very
first hour - his usual cranky self. (You can imagine loosing yourself in
the magic of Philmont for 10 days and then being brought back to the real world
in a matter minutes.)
Of course, having just arrived back from Scouting Paradise, nothing was
going to change my mood. I was relaxed, recharged, 15 pounds lighter, nicely
tanned and nothing was going to get my blood boiling..................not for at
least a couple of days anyway. I picked up the phone ready to face reality
(similar to facing the trail from Clear Creek up to the top of Mount Phillips!)
"Where have you been for two weeks?" he asked in his usual abrasive tone of
voice. (I found out later that one of his machines had some problems and he
preferred to wait for me to come off vacation so I could go visit him). I
proudly told him "A Boy Scout Ranch down south.....pause.....took my son
backpacking."
"Backpacking".....he said with a slight hesitation. Now we had never
discussed his, or for that matter, my hobbies or personal interests. You just
don't do that easily with a customer of his nature.
"Would that happen to be Philmont?" he asked in a completely new tone of
voice. "Yes I said....were you in Scouting at one time?" He confirmed that he
had not only been in Scouting, but that one of the very best times he had in
Scouting was to do a Philmont trek -back in the early 1950's!!
Talk about doing a 180.
My God -it was like the doors to heaven had opened up Philfolks! My
customer asked me (kindly I might add) to visit him in the next day or two and for
me to bring my photos and other Philmont "stuff". He was going to bring in
his photos to compare.
When I visited his plant he whisked me upstairs and sat me down in his
maintenance office. ( What about the problem mixer?..... I thought to myself). I
had never been in his office, let alone -got to sit down in a chair in his
plant. He was usually all business when I visited, marching me around the
chemical area and showing me out the door before I could catch my breath. Out
came some 1950's vintage back & whites - taken with his "new camera". Photos
of the blurry countryside from out of the Bus window. Photos of the old gate
into Philmont, lots of scenic photos -all in gray and white shades. Lot's of
Mountains. A couple of burros. Some Scouts with knapsacks. A Bus driver.
I showed him my huge oversized color prints; my photos outnumbered his
photos by 10:1. I also brought along my copy of "Philmont -Where Spirits Soar" by
Joe Williams / Jerry Poppenhouse. (In this book I had stuffed various
souvenirs, maps, crew photo, train schedule, like you stuff a family bible). I
talked about my Philmont belt and branding my boots.
We sat in his office for over an hour and my cranky customer was transformed
into one of the best customers a Salesman could ever have. What a bonding
experience it was. The Philmont Brotherhood lives on in the soul for many
years, we were evidence of that. He guessed that he had done his trek in about
'53 or '54 and remembered camps such as Ponil and a couple of others I didn't
recognize. (1954 - I wasn't even born yet !!)
At one point he told me about the Burros. How they moved most of their gear
from camp to camp by Burro -not backpacks like we did today. And he asked
me what name I thought his Burro might have had back then - as they all had
names. I sat quizzical for a moment and before I could answer he blurted out
"Milton Burro" slapped his hand down on his desk and let a good belly laugh
go! I of course laughed too, knowing a little bit about Milton Berle -the TV
comedian who his Burro was named after. My customer had waited decades to
tell somebody about his Burro's unique name. What a moment it was for him -let
me tell you! It was pretty funny.
He proceeded to lift one of his long lanky legs up onto his desk. Pulled up
his pants and showed me his sock. Wool. Still wears it today. Has been since
Philmont. Best damn material for socks - you betcha. Never had a problem
with his feet on the trail at Philmont -or anytime since. I told him about my
Polypro liners and Smart Wool blend -two sock method. I don't think he saw
the reasoning or believed our two sock method was any better. But he didn't
argue. We talked about tents and bears and the difference in programs. I told
him about the Baldy purchase. His trek certainly sounded easier back then.
He said Philmont was one of the highlights of his life -changed in for the
better in many ways.
Time ran out and we both had to get to work. I viewed the busted 1962 mixer
and made notes to retrofit the gear box with a current style. He knew the
day had finally come for this long lasting machine and that I had a retrofit
program for it.
I told him to take my photos and book home and give them a good look see; he
quickly took me up on the offer. He also informed that his retirement date
had finally been set for the "end of the year". He said he'd be moving back
East to be with his Mom & family in retirement. I was surprised and also sad
-all at once. But wished him good luck and told him that we should visit
together again -even if it was just for lunch.
About 3 weeks later -a box showed up at my office. My customer had sent
back my photos and book and "a few other things" -read the note on top. He said
he had remembered an old box of "stuff" up in his attic -from Scouting.
Under my photos and book I found a carefully folded, brightly colored, brand
spanking new Philmont neckerchief - from the year of his trek. I don't think he
ever wore it. Also a small, 2 inch round, Philmont black and red patch - the
equivalent of the Arrowhead back then. And a slightly tarnished Liberty
neckerchief slide. And his Philmont belt buckle -less the prong. His note said
he figured I could get it fixed. The leather belt had been lost. (I compared
my buckle with the 50's version - not much has changed).
Philfolks I was just floored! This guy had dug out treasures from nearly 50
years ago and gave them to me -like he had known me as a good Scouting friend
for years. I am still flabbergasted at this most kindly gesture, even today
as I write this, over 7 years later. It just brings tears to the eyes - you
know?
This was supposed to be my "cranky" customer. How could it be?
I called my customer and let him know just how much his kindness had touched
my heart. How I never expected anything like this. He must have known from
my reaction just how much I thought that he would never be capable of this
kind of gesture. I thanked him over and over. I begged him to go out to lunch
-but he was all business and always had a reason not to go. Judging from
his trim waistline - he probably brown bagged it every single day.
We talked on the phone a few more times before he moved back East and then I
lost touch with him. What a great cranky customer he was. I still think
about him all the time -this Philmont Brother of mine.
And how things can sure turn around 180.
Bob McDermott
'98, '02 & '05
IWTGBTP !!
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As you gather around this virtual campfire with fellow
Scouts and Scouters, do your best to be trustworthy,
loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient,
cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent.
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Received on Mon Feb 27 00:28:54 2006
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