Brother Bear

Saturday, 25 July

12:54 a.m.

I’ve been waiting for hours for Rhodes to process his pictures from our adventure this afternoon. To be fair, I slept for much of that time but still. 🤷‍♀️

The simple adventure was a trip to run an errand and then pick Hank up from daycare. I was excited to get out of the house and see what there was to see.

One of the things I love about Swannanoa and Black Mountain is that there are dozens and dozens of ever-changing blooms in beautiful gardens. The natural landscape is glorious enough, but many of the people who live in these communities work hard in relationship with their land.

After we completed our errand, Rhodes drove through some Black Mountain neighborhoods so I could fill my eyes and spirit with floral beauty. I was not disappointed. As we headed toward the long back road to the daycare I said, “Please let me see a bear.”

I honestly don’t know if I was making that request to Rhodes or to a slightly more powerful entity, or even to my own magic, but someone heard it and decided to answer.

We were fewer than 5 minutes away from Hank when we rounded a curve on North Fork Road and saw this chonky bear.

Y’all, I actually cried. He is a rough looking fellow, magnificent, breathtaking, and somewhat scruffy. And I would gladly have sat and watched him for hours.

I take nothing for granted, especially not a gift like seeing a bear when I deeply needed to see one.

Good night, peeps. May your dreams take you to sweet places.