21 Comments
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Janice Anne Wheeler's avatar

What an encounter AND damn girl you can construct a sentence! Wow.

I have a bear story to share.... J

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Marya Hornbacher's avatar

Thank you!! And please - bring on the bear!!

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Susan OBrien's avatar

You write beautifully.

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Marya Hornbacher's avatar

Thank you so much, Susan! It's so good to have you here!!

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Elizabeth Beggins's avatar

Got to admit, a postcard is all I want sometimes, or certainly all I need, especially when the image is evocative and the choice of words just so.

I've never encountered a bear, but if I could ensure a similar electric moment (complete with the most magnetic ears) I'd sign up today. Best I can offer is a mountain lion taken in slowly and deliciously in the red glow of tail lights.

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Marya Hornbacher's avatar

I DO think you’d REALLY have wanted to pet those ears

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Elizabeth Beggins's avatar

🐻

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Holly Starley's avatar

What a fantastic encounter! Isn’t the reminder of our own animal-ness such a particular type of wonderful?

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Marya Hornbacher's avatar

it IS, until I'm HUNGRY. or crabby ;)

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John Lovie's avatar

I have not been that close to a bear, yet, other than in a car. But Steller sealions, elephant seals, coyotes, for sure, and it's thrilling every time. And I've very likely been that close to a mountain lion without knowing it!

"...whether there was a time that we understood ourselves to be, in some core way, solo people, people who were on solitary path through the world."

Oof, yes, and yes again to the way you answered it.

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Marya Hornbacher's avatar

I so wish you'd been in attendance at that event, John - you'd have absolutely loved Karen's reading and the conversation afterward. I could listen to her riff all day!

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Wendy Varley's avatar

I can sense the allure of the bear's ears from here!

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Marya Hornbacher's avatar

you'd have felt the same - I'm certain of it!!

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Jan Elisabeth's avatar

Oh that bear. The love on the path and the knowing when to walk it solo and the links with writing process. An abundance to ponder.

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Marya Hornbacher's avatar

abundance - there's a word I employ too rarely! and write about too rarely, too, I'd wager. thank you for the reminder, accidental as it may have been! xo

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Sophie S.'s avatar

Reason number one why New Zealand is my preferred country to live in: no bears

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Marya Hornbacher's avatar

it's not the bears on this continent that bug me - it's the dang snakes :P

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Sophie S.'s avatar

Also don't have those in NZ. Reason number 2 😁

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Marya Hornbacher's avatar

This sounds better and better… 😏

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Teyani Whitman's avatar

Never met a bear, and I can truly imagine you wanting to touch its ears…

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Marya Hornbacher's avatar

right?? they looked improbably soft!

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