Happy Bear-Day to Me!

Birthdays are one of those times that I often reflect on the past year (or even years!) and think about what I’ve done, not done, should have done, shouldn’t have done! You know, revisit the events and experiences and evaluate myself and my performance. Birthdays feel like a natural marker—a moment to do just that! 

This year I’ve had a little extra impetus to think about my birthday. I’ve been given the gift of Storyworth for this upcoming year. It will send me prompts and questions that I can write about. I can even include pictures. At the end of the year there will be a book created that will go to our daughter Maggie who gave the gift to me. Week by week I’ll be remembering and reflecting and writing about aspects of my life. I’m sure that I’ll remember things long forgotten, and she and whoever else reads it will discover things about me that they didn’t know. So we’re taking what was my natural inclination anyway and combining it with technology and communication to create something of value. Should be great. 

This birthday that passed just a few days ago will be memorable, for sure. 

I’ve not done well with celebrating myself through the years. In fact, it has taken a long time and lots of attention even to begin the process. But I will say that I’m getting better at it. 

This past birthday I went and had a massage. I’ve got lots of wear and tear on my body. My right knee is not good. I’ve had back surgery. I am tractioning my neck to try to address some misalignment that affects my hands. So loosening up my muscles and relieving tension in my body is a healthy bit of self-care. I feel so much better afterwards. 

I also love to be in the woods. So a good day of hiking would also be welcomed. I chose to head towards the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. I elected to go to Tremont. I made the decison to go to Spruce Flats Falls and see what they had done to the trail. It had been closed for a bit while the trail crews (Yay! Train Crews!) had done some improvements. 

It was lovely to walk on the new tread. It was a short but steep hike to the falls. Some families were enjoying the view and the water. I stopped and ate my lunch. Peaceful! Beautiful! Refreshing! 

After a bit I started my way back up the trail. After climbing a bit which requires serious focus, I paused for a breath. Then I looked over and saw it! About 15 to 18 feet away from me was a bear. It was slightly below the trail and standing next to a sizeable tree. We looked into each other’s eyes a bit surprised at the meeting. 

I stood motionless. It did as well. I felt awe and respect for this beautiful black bear. 

I slowly started to reach for my phone so that I could capture this moment with a picture. I know that bears are usually shy and not all that anxious for human contact. It didn’t move much except to look back over its shoulder behind the tree. I now had the phone in hand and could get a pic or two. I zoomed in slightly to get a closer shot. Nice portrait! 

It moved to its right and downhill. It sort of crashed through the rhododendrons for about 15 feet and came to a stop looking up at me. I noticed movement out of the corner of my eye. Two cubs came out from behind the tree and moved downhill towards mama bear! I remained still and took what pictures of the family I could manage. None of us were alarmed. Mama bear went about digging at a fallen log looking for grubs. Cubs were close behind and seemed almost oblivious to my presence. The bears were back to doing what they had probably been doing before I had showed up. It’s important that they didn’t really alter their movements or behaviors. They kept doing ‘bear stuff’ as if nothing big had happened. That was good. 

In one sense that was true. I was there but not really attracting attention either through anxiety or aggression. We had acknowledged each others’ presence in a knowing glance. I had no real place to retreat, but then again neither of us felt the need. 

It was for me a great gift. To be face to face with this magnificent animal in its environment yet both of us feel completely at home! I’ve been around bears since I was a boy growing up in Gatlinburg. I could not tell you how many bear encounters I’ve had.   Bears have always been part of the woods for me. 

I have had people tell me that the bear is my spirit animal. I can understand they’re saying that. I have been told that the quiet strength of the bear is something they feel in me. I’ll take all of that as a compliment. 

And I have to say that I love bears as well! If by ‘spirit animal’ we mean the animal that I admire most, then the bear is at the top of my list! 

I’ve got more bear stories, but I’ll save them for another day. 

For this day this bear encounter was a great gift! A reminder of beauty and strength and care and belonging! I doubt that this mama bear and her cubs had the same sense of joy that I did when we met. I’m sure it was none of their birthdays since bears are born in the winter. But for me it was a Happy Bear-Day! A very happy Bear-Day, indeed!

[I am compelled to advise anyone hiking/camping/exploring to be Bear Aware and follows recommended guidelines for bear encounters. This one was sudden, silent, and unexpected. When possible, follow guidelines for your safety and for the bears as well!]