Are There Bears at the Zoo?

That’s a line we use to change the subject in a conversation that is heading in a bad direction. We actually saw a bear today while riding at the end of Green Acres Road where the West Florida campus is. As I drove by I saw what looked like one of the bear statues that were scattered around Wilmington VT—until it stood up an leaned on a telephone pole. Our usual manner of pointing out animals on the roadside to other passengers is to point at it and say what it is at least 3 times. We have found this to be the quickest method for assuring others have at least a chance of seeing them. So, I pointed and said, “bear, bear, bear!” Usually Penny misses the animal but she saw this one. The bear was at the side exit to the school and we could go up to the center entrance and loop back to get another look. I asked Penny if she wanted to and she said yes and started to dig out her camera. We looped back and found the bear walking out into the woods. We stopped and took pictures from the car and another car did the same from the other direction. When we stopped the bear actually turned and walked towards us a little. He wasn’t afraid of us but a little wary. He turned and left and so did we. Isn’t it strange that we are so disconnected from nature that seeing something like this is exciting and unusual?

My cold is beginning to fade. I feel good, I feel bad. I even sometimes see little spots before my eyes. This cough and runny nose will probably drag on for a while until it finally gives up.

Yesterday I baked another loaf of crusty bread with good results. Since Penny made soup we had it with chicken noodle soup yesterday and pasta fagioli today.

Our Target run today was productive. They’ve got LED flashlights, bunji cords and straps and tools and tool cases at 50% off. We cherry picked the best deals and the most useful items for us. Penny found herself a classy computer case. It looks like a big purse.

In between that trip and helping Penny square her quilt and the trip where we saw the bear I got some yard work done. I’m cleaning out the yard and getting ready for hurricane season. I’m still moving slow from the cold. I’m hoping to get in a walk of some kind tomorrow.