Happy 100th Birthday to the Girl Scouts--and a HUGE Thank You for Samoas, Thin Mints and Tagalongs

Clearly I fancied myself as a trend-setting Scout. White patent leather t-straps, with heels, paired with brown knee-high socks. Stylin'

Where I grew up, just north of New York City, there were tons of Girl Scout Camps. Amazingly, they're all still there instead of being turned into condos or McMansions. Every year we went on at least two camping trips—one indoor in the winter, one outdoor in the spring. My mom would often come along, whether she was a leader or just to help, and she reminds me of the time I led a late-night mission to sneak out of our tent. We didn't get far because apparently I was so loud rallying the girls that I woke my mother in the next tent and, as I opened the flap of our tent to go outside, I heard voice: Suzanne Michelle Byrne don't even think about it. Busted! Later that night, a raccoon tried to get into our tent, which was probably my payback for trying to stage a breakout.

This must have been an important event in the world of Scouting, hence the candles, but I don't remember what exactly was going on.

Each summer I'd spend a week at Girl Scout camp, where I did everything from milk a goat (!) to roast marshmallows under the starry sky while singing camp songs. It was something I looked forward to every year and it was pretty perfect…except for the latrine situation. That part was very traumatic.