just have to brag :)

**minda** · 05-19-2013, 15:59

I've been preparing for my section hike (from Fontana to Springer later this week) since Thanksgiving. Originally, it was to be me & my cousin's wife, then the husbands decided to join us for three days. Now, my fourteen year old son and his girlfriend will be going with us for three days.

It's the girlfriend who I am so proud of. My son has been backpacking since he was two - this is nothing new to him. His girlfriend is from a non-outdoorsy family, but she has been on several hikes with us in the last six months (most recently, Springer to Hightower). She is so excited about this upcoming hike that she had her grandmother take her to rei to get a new osprey pack for her birthday - which she is having the lid monogrammed. Today, she is practicing hanging her hammock so that she doesn't have to ask for help. When we did our last hike, it rained 85% of the time... and she kept smiling.

I love when girls this age are excited about outdoor pursuits rather than shopping & texting!!!

**rocketsocks** · 05-19-2013, 16:09

Mine is all about the shopeene...ugh! I tell her I like shopping, for backpacks tents, food, doodads.....she's not impressed.

**minda** · 05-19-2013, 16:36

The boy's girlfriend spent FOUR hours with me in TWO over spring break. It was so cool. She is awesome.

**fredmugs** · 05-19-2013, 16:56

That's something to brag about?

**Feral Bill** · 05-19-2013, 17:20

Originally Posted by fredmugs

That's something to brag about?

An on top of it teen that you are helping to get outdoors in a serious way? Heck yeah!

**Water Rat** · 05-19-2013, 17:44

Originally Posted by minda

I've been preparing for my section hike (from Fontana to Springer later this week) since Thanksgiving. Originally, it was to be me & my cousin's wife, then the husbands decided to join us for three days. Now, my fourteen year old son and his girlfriend will be going with us for three days.

It's the girlfriend who I am so proud of. My son has been backpacking since he was two - this is nothing new to him. His girlfriend is from a non-outdoorsy family, but she has been on several hikes with us in the last six months (most recently, Springer to Hightower). She is so excited about this upcoming hike that she had her grandmother take her to rei to get a new osprey pack for her birthday - which she is having the lid monogrammed. Today, she is practicing hanging her hammock so that she doesn't have to ask for help. When we did our last hike, it rained 85% of the time... and she kept smiling.

I love when girls this age are excited about outdoor pursuits rather than shopping & texting!!!

I love that she is practicing on her own, so she doesn't have to ask for help. That tells me she is loving her time in the outdoors and is eager to increase her personal knowledge. Congratulations to both of you! That is definitely something to brag about.

**minda** · 05-19-2013, 18:06

Sorry, Fredmugs. I'm no hero (that's my husband); I teach school. When I brag, it's about kids -either mine or someone else's - who does something awesome. And, yes, a kid who was never in the outdoors before last December enjoying it so much that she's practicing skills on her own? Yup, in my world, that IS something to brag about.

"I believe that children are the future. Teach them well and let them lead the way."

**minda** · 05-19-2013, 20:53

Originally Posted by minda

The boy's girlfriend spent FOUR hours with me in TWO over spring break. It was so cool. She is awesome.

Stupid autocorrect. We spent FOUR hours at REI.

**fredmugs** · 05-20-2013, 07:06

Originally Posted by minda

Sorry, Fredmugs. I'm no hero (that's my husband); I teach school. When I brag, it's about kids -either mine or someone else's - who does something awesome. And, yes, a kid who was never in the outdoors before last December enjoying it so much that she's practicing skills on her own? Yup, in my world, that IS something to brag about.

"I believe that children are the future. Teach them well and let them lead the way."

I keep forgetting that we live in an Every Kid Wins a Medal society where we reward them for anything they do. You can be proud (I guess) but it's definitely nothing to brag about.

**Tuckahoe** · 05-20-2013, 08:21

Originally Posted by fredmugs

I keep forgetting that we live in an Every Kid Wins a Medal society where we reward them for anything they do. You can be proud (I guess) but it's definitely nothing to brag about.

I keep forgetting that we live in a society where everyone gets to be a dick.

All she was doing was bragging on her son's girlfriend about how the kid has taken to the outdoors, had nothing to do with every kid wins a medal... but you just had to be a badass and crap on her thread.

**Kerosene** · 05-20-2013, 08:26

Oh, stop being such a curmudgeon Fred. It's her thread and you don't have to read it. After finally getting my girlie-girl daughter on the trail at age 20, I certainly understand how great it is to see someone enjoy the experience.

Now, having a full-time girlfriend at age 14 -- that's a lot earlier than when I was growing up!

**david_1** · 05-20-2013, 08:29

well said :-)

**Marta** · 05-20-2013, 08:47

Good job, Minda! It's such a joy to open the door to a new world (the real world of Nature!) for someone, and watch them walk through with pleasure.

**Marta** · 05-20-2013, 08:54

And Fred, this is definitely NOT about every kid winning a medal. I sincerely doubt the girl did this in order to be mentioned on WB, if she even has any idea what that is. She might have started off doing it to please her boyfriend, but what Minda is saying is that she enjoyed the feeling of accomplishment learning to do something new gave her, and then ended up enjoying the whole experience for its own sake. THAT is what Minda was sharing with us.

The bragging part of the story is that her son picked a great girlfriend. :-)

**Lyle** · 05-20-2013, 09:47

Hate to be a downer, but I fear you may have triggered an addiction that will cost that poor girl, and perhaps your son if he's smart, a lifetime of spending money to support this habit you are bragging about so much. Enablers - all of you!!!!

**fredmugs** · 05-20-2013, 10:07

brag (br

g) v. bragged, brag·ging, brags
v.intr. To talk boastfully. See Synonyms at boast¹.

v.tr. To assert boastfully.

n. 1. A boast.
2. Arrogant or boastful speech or manner.
3. Something boasted of.
4. A braggart; a boaster.

**coach lou** · 05-20-2013, 10:08

Originally Posted by fredmugs

brag (br

g) v. bragged, brag·ging, brags
v.intr. To talk boastfully. See Synonyms at boast¹.

v.tr. To assert boastfully.

n. 1. A boast.
2. Arrogant or boastful speech or manner.
3. Something boasted of.
4. A braggart; a boaster.

Let it go Fred

**bfayer** · 05-20-2013, 10:51

minda,

Nothing wrong with being proud of her. Feel free to brag all you want.

Seeing kids grow and learn is always worth bragging about

**slbirdnerd** · 05-20-2013, 12:30

I enjoyed the story, minda, made me smile! Love it when kids get outside and begin to experience living!

**minda** · 05-20-2013, 15:54

Wow.

Thanks to those of you who understood my reason for posting. I enjoy seeing the excitement on the face of a young person who is experiencing the outdoors for the first time. A whole new world has opened up to her - and, yes, she's been bitten by the gear addiction. It's pretty awesome.

As for the vocabulary lesson, thank you for being such a kind teacher. I have learned so much...

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