Oh, I could begin this telling by conjuring up the terror of them being alone in the woods at the lake and seeing the big black Alaskan bear just yards away… I could tell how Mom said, "Oh, Alan, don't tease me at a time like this!" as she settled down on a nearby log to enjoy a cinnamon roll just after Dad had cast his lure into the lake. I could try and recreate that moment when she understood from the look in his eye-the tone of his voice-that it wasn't a joke. But I'm not that good of a writer. But I am a good listener. And as she related the story to me, I found myself leaning forward to hear every word. My mind raced-My God! I felt their moment. I felt it in my soul. And here they were driving me home from a doctor's visit-so obviously the story had a good outcome---but the details, the unfolding-I wanted to hear it all. And so I listened..intently.
They had been drawn to this pristine hiking trail. They knew there were lakes back in there. They'd come on this vacation for just such exquisite experiences with nature. So off they went, tackle, rod, water and food in hand--but no weapon. Later the locals would tell them, "It's just plain stupid to even think of going back into those woods without a weapon. Once a bear stalks you-well, it's pretty much over. You're damned lucky. Damned lucky!"
Bear-now there is another interesting word in the Kurash family. Ron has always been known as Bear. Since he stands 6'4" and is over 300 pounds, it's not hard to imagine. But it is more than that. He's big-hearted. He's cuddly. He's like Baloo in Jungle Book and he's like Winnie the Pooh. He's like Yogi and Smokey. Somehow he just can't miss the mark-he's Grumpy and Tenderheart and Sunshine and Rainbow-the epitome of the Care Bears all rolled into one. And so one of my thoughts after the story of surving the Alaskan bear was to wonder about the unfathomableness of Mom and Dad meeting their demise by a 'bear'. It just couldn't be that way-not that way.
But the bear did follow them and Mom followed Dad's instructions to the letter--using hand movements and speaking loudly, while being resolute and calm in her animated movements. They first had to maneuver their way back onto the path-around the bear-and then began the walking, talking, and stalking as they moved along the trail. Dad had managed to get one picture and was wanting to take another, but thought twice about that-the flash could become a trigger for attack.
"You have a picture?!" I was amazed.
"Yes-it's not that good, but I did get one."
The silence that followed came with the understanding that that one picture was taken for informative purposes when the camera was found along the trail…
The silence, though brief, also took my mind to that trail-envisioning that walk-Mom in front, Dad behind, and the bear… The focus, the intensity, the unknowing, the need to do-move arms, move feet-keep moving-just keep moving. And their talk…
"We both made peace with ourselves. This was the end. We were certain of it and we were at peace with it." That was Mom talking.
I'm glad she didn't see me tear up. I understood. I felt their moment. I was proud of them. Their strength was oozing out all over the place there in that car. Not much else needed to be said. But in my heart I imagined their words:
"Brigitte. If he attacks me, you just keep on moving. Don't look back. Just keep moving. Don't listen to the sounds. Just make it out. I mean it now. You just keep moving."
"Alan-I won't leave you. We either make it out together or we don't make it out. And that is that. Period."
And so they kept moving. Then they came to the fork in the road. They went ahead and something made the bear turn towards the other lake. They'll never know what. Did someone else take out a cinnamon roll over there? Or had bear now safely escorted them away from the other dangers that had unknowingly surrounded them at the lake, so that he could now go on about his day? Was he a danger or a guardian? We'll never know.
Ron had had an inexplicable intuitive moment while his parents were away on vacation. He is very intuitive-and fortunately he is usually granted knowledge to confirm or explain these thoughts. But once in awhile he doesn't know what they are about-only that they are very, very real. He had had one of those recently… We didn't mark the date down, so we will never know if the two events coincided. But I imagine they did.
And so, in my telling, it ends this way: Mom and Dad had gotten lost in the woods-like Hansel and Gretel. The wicked witch was nearby and was planning on eating them, but then Bear showed up and ruined the evil plans. Bear saw Mom and Dad safely out of the woods and out of danger. But in so doing they had a miraculous, wonderful opportunity to remember how much they love each other and how at peace they are with life when they are with each other-that they can successfully face anything. They can stare death in the face and take a picture and keep on walking and talking.
GOLDEN TELLING
