Oh, what a treat that was, on so many levels. And so fabulously written — the authorly part of my mind chuckled out loud with delight at 'subtle as an old friend’s warning; graceful as a diplomat turning up the pressure; measured as a poker player unsure of her hand'. Just gorgeously evocative and accurate. Delicious!
While I recognised deeply the experience-form you described so aptly. And am grateful too for the introduction to Jill Bolte Taylor's presentation, which I watched and then went straight to a deep sleep to embed.
It also rippled Leopold's 'Thinking like a mountain' back to me, which of course includes his own encounter...
These words in no way convey the experience of my own meeting with 'Meeting Mind, Mountain and the Momma', but I am not in authorly mind right now and have no desire to be, so will just offer my gratitude!
Fine writing. It brings back a similar experience I had many solstices ago hiking solo in the Olympic Mountains. That was with brown bears. But it turns out that brown bears and grizzlies are the same species. The myth of grizzlies as being more vicious has been attributed to sensationalist tales from the nineteenth century frontier. Still, we all as animals can sense presence in another's stance, and whether we're met with respect or fear. Despite the myth of the grizzly, your managing presence, and thus respect, is a fine lesson.
They're magnificent creatures aren't they? I hadn't thought much about them until I met one. I was lucky too, if it'd been November and they'd been hungry things could have gone very differently. As it was she was in a good mood I would say - the opposite of vicious. Powerful though, and so charismatic and sensitive.
I wonder if the frontier people didn't understand bear behaviour and ran from them, triggering the bear's prey response? Something I've wondered about. If a person runs upon contact there's a very high chance the bear will give chase - they're really fast and can run anyone down easy.
Would like to hear your story sometime if you're up for it. Amazing animals. Glad their numbers are increasing.
Oh, what a treat that was, on so many levels. And so fabulously written — the authorly part of my mind chuckled out loud with delight at 'subtle as an old friend’s warning; graceful as a diplomat turning up the pressure; measured as a poker player unsure of her hand'. Just gorgeously evocative and accurate. Delicious!
While I recognised deeply the experience-form you described so aptly. And am grateful too for the introduction to Jill Bolte Taylor's presentation, which I watched and then went straight to a deep sleep to embed.
It also rippled Leopold's 'Thinking like a mountain' back to me, which of course includes his own encounter...
These words in no way convey the experience of my own meeting with 'Meeting Mind, Mountain and the Momma', but I am not in authorly mind right now and have no desire to be, so will just offer my gratitude!
Thanks for the kind words friend! So glad it landed with you.
Fine writing. It brings back a similar experience I had many solstices ago hiking solo in the Olympic Mountains. That was with brown bears. But it turns out that brown bears and grizzlies are the same species. The myth of grizzlies as being more vicious has been attributed to sensationalist tales from the nineteenth century frontier. Still, we all as animals can sense presence in another's stance, and whether we're met with respect or fear. Despite the myth of the grizzly, your managing presence, and thus respect, is a fine lesson.
Thank you Whit, appreciate the kind words.
They're magnificent creatures aren't they? I hadn't thought much about them until I met one. I was lucky too, if it'd been November and they'd been hungry things could have gone very differently. As it was she was in a good mood I would say - the opposite of vicious. Powerful though, and so charismatic and sensitive.
I wonder if the frontier people didn't understand bear behaviour and ran from them, triggering the bear's prey response? Something I've wondered about. If a person runs upon contact there's a very high chance the bear will give chase - they're really fast and can run anyone down easy.
Would like to hear your story sometime if you're up for it. Amazing animals. Glad their numbers are increasing.