[nfbwatlk] black bears and blindness skills

[Jacob]

that is a funny story
from
Jacob
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Carl Jarvis" <carjar at olypen.com>
To: "nfbw" <nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, November 01, 2006 6:02 PM
Subject: [nfbwatlk] black bears and blindness skills


Trying to explain anything about blindness to a black bear is just a waste 
of time.  Them bears don't listen.
And all these alternative skills I learned, don't  help at all when I don't 
know that it's a black bear I'm talking to.
Out here on the Great Olympic Peninsula, we had our first sub freezing night 
monday night.
Cathy was making going to bed noises and I decided to stoke up the fireplace 
with a couple of slow burning logs.  We turn the furnace thermostat to the
Frost Bite zone, in the belief that we are helping in the fight against 
Global Warming.  I know I'm doing my part when I hop out of bed in the
morning and my fingers freeze to my belt buckle.
Quickly stepping out to the wood pile I heard a loud snuffling.  For what 
ever reason I thought my neighbor's dog had come visiting.
"Riley, what are you doing over here so late at night"?
More snuffling, only louder, along with a sort of panting sound.
"You all right Boy?  Come over here.?  "
I began to get an uneasy feeling.  Riley is a rather hefty German Shepard 
who bounds joyfully into my midsection any time I pay him the slightest bit 
of attention.
 This fellow in front of me had begun to back away, while at the same time 
increasing the volume of huffing and snuffing.
"Come here, Riley", I said in my most firm, commanding voice.  At the same 
time I began sliding sideways toward the door.  Behind me Cathy's calm voice
said, "I don't think that bear wants to come inside".
Later, as we burrowed down in a pile of bed clothes, I  mused "There must be 
some sort of technique for a blind person to tell when they're talking to a
bear.  some safe way".
"Why should bears be any different than people?" Cathy asked.  "I've seen 
you try to strike up a conversation with lots of folks who behaved exactly 
like
that bear did."
"I guess you're right", I said as she shoved a chunk of ice into my 
midsection.  "But I never worried that any of them might bite me".
"And that's a huge mistake on your part," she said as she pushed her other 
frozen foot next to the first one.  "There have been times when I'd rather 
have
taken my chances with the bear."

Carl Jarvis

No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.1.408 / Virus Database: 268.13.13/500 - Release Date: 10/26/2006



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


> _______________________________________________
> nfbwatlk mailing list
> nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbwatlk
>