Do you know someone who attracts a certain something? Maybe trouble or mosquitoes. I have a social worker cousin who, even in our youth, attracted those who needed emotional support. We would sit on a bench in a mall, or a park, and soon enough, a clearly troubled person would join us and engage her in conversation.
I attract bears.
Years ago, before kids, my husband and I were on an Adirondack vacation with friends. On one beautiful day, he and I went for a mountain hike.
At the trail head were too many signs picturing bears and describing the peril of entering the forest. We were encouraged to sign the register before proceeding. We printed our names, smiled at each other with unconvincing confidence, and began the uphill climb.
Two hours into the walk, I was leading. And there it was. That all too familiar growl.
I stopped and put my arms out elementary-school-crossing-gua
Then we turned, and I followed two well-known rules:
1) Don’t run.
2) I don’t have to outrun the bear, I only need to outrun you.
I speed walked past my husband who surely wanted to be between me and impending doom.
We could hear the plod-plod-plod behind us. I turned to look back, and he warned me to just keep walking.
We may have stumbled across a mama and her young. It could have simply been a startled bear, or one protecting its territory.
No matter the bear’s agenda, it followed us for a long while, and we arrived at the trail head one hour after our encounter.
We were thrilled to be alive and unharmed, and to have dinner conversation. We felt like champions of the woods, our survival celebrated by checking ourselves out of the register.
When we returned to civilization, our adrenaline rush was dammed by a terrible force. We mourned something far greater than the impact stolen from our fine adventure saga. Something angrier than a wild animal demanded our attention.
Our bear was protecting something and warning us.
The evil that overwhelmed us and the tale of our ursine encounter, was bent on destruction.
That morning in the woods took place on September 11, 2001.
