We saw our first bear today. Okay, our first non-zoo or circus bear. It was a big black bear. He looked hungry but then all bears look hungry to me. 

It’s true I am afraid of bears. Some people think that fact is hilarious. Mostly close friends and family – you know those who theoretically should be most supportive. Unless, I am confused and “support” is actually defined as repetitively posting pictures of snarling bears with comments like “Watch out for the bears, Tanya” “LOL”. No one laughs out loud around bears. I’ve covered this in previous blogs. Bears aren’t funny. Apex predators don’t LOL.

A friend from work happens to be from Canada. He knew I was nervous about the bears and as thoughtful Canadians are prone to do he got me a “gift”. A bear bell.  Thanks, Sam, now they will know dinner is coming.  

Sam, is also the one who left me with two critical parting words of wisdom. Words that loop through my brain again and again with every snapped branch or rustling of bushes. First, bears are not like squirrels. I think this was meant to comfort me. Remind me that bears aren’t lurking around every corner and as it turns out Sam is correct. Thus far, I have not seen one squirrel. Second (my favorite advice of all time) that I should definitely not be worried about the bears. After all it’s the Pumas you need to worry about, you’ll never see those coming. 

LOL?