Cooperative Living September 2018 - 42

Rural Living | by Margo Oxendine, Contributing Columnist
Walk in the woods was
no 'Teddy Bear Picnic'
three-legged bear could probably outrun me.
Carrying bear spray might help, but I
I
have been walking in the woods around
here for decades; minus, of course, the two
years I was " down " with the new knees.
But my new knees are finally cooperating,
and I am back at my walks through the woods.
Lately, I've been doing it almost every day. I
am now addicted to the endorphins a trudge
down a wooded lane brings. And, I've
managed to leave about 20 pounds along the
trailside. What's not to love? What's not to
compel one to just get out there and do it?
In all my years in the woods, I have never
seen a bear. I have rarely seen bears at all,
save for a few from behind the safety of my
car windows. My favorite bear sighting: A
mama bear and three little cubs, the last cub
tumbling end over end down a hillside. It
made me laugh out loud with delight. In
fact, I am delighted every time I spy a bear.
I keep an eye out for them.
I was always glad, though, that I'd never
encountered one when it was just me and the
bear and Mother Nature. One day last fall, on
my particular favorite walk, I somehow
managed to freak myself out that a bear was
stalking me. Don't know why that happened,
but the thought and the fear overtook my
mind, and I couldn't get out of the woods
quickly enough!
You're not supposed to run from a bear; I
know that much. Besides, even a geriatric,
cannot bring myself to do that. I don't want
to get in a pitched battle with an angry bear.
I just want to admire him or her, and have
us both go about our business of walking.
On a recent evening, I was taking my daily
trek down the wooded lane. It was about 7:30
or 7:45. Summer is simply too blazing-sun
hot for me to do this any earlier.
I had been alerted by a fellow walker I
sometimes encounter that he had spied a
bear up near a certain landmark along our
walk. He said it crashed into the woods as
soon as it saw him.
" Thanks, " I said. " I'm more afraid of the
ticks than a bear! "
Still, I kept my eyes open. I passed the
landmark with no bear sighting.
Nonetheless, I kept an eye on the woods
to my left. On the right is a spreading,
lavish meadow with horses, and a 40-mile
mountain view.
And, lo, suddenly, there he was: A bear.
In the woods not 20 feet from me! Oh geez,
I thought. I patted my pocket, only to
discover that this was the only day in at
least 100 walks here that I'd forgotten my
cellphone. I don't know whom I'd have
called, but it would have been a comfort to
have called someone -anyone - to come
pick me up if the bear decided to chase me.
So it's just the two of us, staring at each
other. Neither of us with a phone.
A sudden plan overcame me: Sing! Yet, I
could not think of a single song. So, I quickly
made up one and started belting it out as I
walked slowly away. (Running triggers a
bear's chase instinct, I'd read.)
I can't remember the song I made up on
the spot, but believe me, at the time it
seemed Broadway worthy. It was about a
bear in the woods, and a woman alone,
without a phone. It had pep, and pathos,
and a perfect build-up to the coda, or end.
As I sang, I kept a close watch over my
shoulder. There was nothing lumbering after
me, thank heavens. I kept going, knowing
that once I turned back, I'd be entering the
bear's territory. But finally, I had no choice:
It was time to watchfully head back to the
safety of the car. I strained my eyes in the
twilight, but saw neither hide nor hair of
the bear. I sighed with relief when I shut
the car door and headed back home.
It's a funny thing, though. Now that my
first open-air bear encounter has occurred,
I somehow can't wait for it to happen again.
I've got a song ready for him this time.
Still, I'll carry my cellphone, and my
old-golf-club walking stick. 
To read more of Margo's adventures, order
her book, " A Party of One. "
Call 540-468-2147 Monday-Thursday
from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Or email:
TheRecorderOffice@gmail.com.
40 | Cooperative Living | September 2018
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Cooperative Living September 2018

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