Here are a few things to do when you have nothing to do
My mother didn’t see the bear, but she felt the log shift under his weight when he sat down behind her
At first, since the bear said nothing. Mom thought my father had just quietly joined our picnic there on Five Mile Creek near Libby, Mont. Dad didn’t talk much. Mom had her hands full anyway with her adorable little girl (that would be me) who was splashing in the stream. Then she turned and saw the black fur. She instantly perceived that something was wrong. My dad had red hair.
There are no rules for a first meeting with a bear, even if it’s only a black bear. If it’s a grizzly, the rules are entirely different. Black bears are omnivorous and usually solitary, according to the Montana Field Guide. They are also opportunists. If they find a pail of milk left in the snow to keep cool on a porch, they’ll drink it, and apparently, if they find a log, they’ll sit on it.
Bears eat everything: fruits, vegetables, bird eggs, garbage and small animals. Even from my three-year-old viewpoint, I could see that I was the only one present that fitted any of those descriptions, so I kept uncharacteristically silent.
My mother tried a tentative “shoo,” but nobody did, so we three sat quietly for a while, uncertain of the protocol in this case. We stared at the bear who stared at the lard pail which held our lunch. Then my dad appeared, carrying his fishing gear.
The bear, apparently feeling he’d socialized enough, stood up, scooped up the lard pail between his jaws and sauntered away.
I just howled. That pail, in addition to fried trout sandwiches (bones removed), held my dessert, a genuine Tootsie Pop. And I’ll tell you, those pops weren’t the wimpy things then that they are now. The bear didn’t bring it back, though.
I’ve thought a lot about that spring day with the bear lately as we struggle to find the new normal in our suddenly unfamiliar world.
My Midwestern son reports, “running a solo governmental law office out of my kitchen, my house is also home to a one-room schoolhouse (learning about trapezoids today), a one-room college with dormitory and we’re hosting a foundation that supports the state’s wildlife conservation and education efforts. Interestingly when the world shuts down, folks don’t feel as confident making charitable donations.”
Like many families, we can’t be together now, so I’ve resurrected some projects that my kids loved. A favorite is the Family Sun Catcher. We made this by combining tissue paper figures of all the family members, no matter where they are, and hanging them in the window to catch the sun. (Directions at www.itsnevertoolate.com.)
There are a lot of things that work with kids when you’re desperate to keep sane.
Cornmeal in a dishpan makes a very acceptable indoor sandbox. Easy to replace when it gets grimy. We loved storybook gardens, a garden planted in a cake pan to illustrate a favorite story with figures added. Create a family trivia game, or I’ve had good luck with the old game where you start a story and someone else continues. Works well on iPhones.
You have to stay active. You can play pickleball, as long as you don’t play doubles (I heard that on NPR), or take an online class in something you wouldn’t ordinarily consider.
Reader Dick Parrett writes:
“Good news!! I found a site online that teaches tattooing. I need to do 3 tattoos and send them pictures. I need a volunteer. Are you available?” I certainly want to support our readers, but no.
“We’re all in this together” is the new catchphrase. And it’s true. It has to be.
An article in the Kitsap Sun says that the Naval Undersea Warfare Center, Keyport, is partnering with Naval Hospital Bremerton to create and test face shields for medical personnel. They are joined by countless other businesses, public and private, who are inventing ways to help.
Seems to me these days are very like that spring day on Five Mile Creek. The bear moved on and so did we. But I never got my Tootsie Pop back.
It’s been three weeks since I have hugged or touched another human person. Thank goodness I have a life-size teddy bear.
The little girl who lives upstairs brought a handful of brightly colored sidewalk chalk and drew beautiful pictures on the walk in front of my window. The rain washed them away. I hope she’ll draw more.
I’m glad you’re there. We’ve got this.
Where to find Dorothy in April
Dorothy is home like everyone else, but directions for the Family Sun Catcher and other projects mentioned in this column are available at www.itsnevertoolate.com, where you can also listen to her Swimming Upstream and Generation Gap podcasts.
You can let Dorothy know what’s getting you through, leave a message at 1-800-548-9264 or dorothy@itsnevertoolate.com.
This story was originally published April 5, 2020 at 5:01 AM with the headline "Here are a few things to do when you have nothing to do."