I have to share a story that is definitely one of the dumber moments of my life. Well, except for the time we showed up at the Atlanta airport for a trip to the Cayman Islands without our passports. We didn't just 'forget them,' that could be excused. No, it never even occured to us we would need passports (to leave the country after 9/11) until we were walking up to the INTERNATIONAL check-in at the airport and looked at each other and said, "Ummm, did you think about passports?" I digress.
Back to bears. When we moved to Charlottesville, I had lived my entire 27 1/2 years in either Georgia or Alabama. The office I worked in was on the opposite side of town from our apartment. I could either go through the most congested parts of town or drive on these beautiful, winding backroads through Virginia farmland. Most days, I chose the latter.
Within the first month of our arrival, I was driving home from work one afternoon on a desolate road, when I came around a curve and saw a LARGE black bear on the right side of the road. As he saw me, he stood up on his back legs. I swear, in my memory he was 6 feet tall. Anyway, since my only previous bear sightings had been in zoos or the occasional Atlanta evening news report of a capture in a residential neighborhood, I did what seemed to me the sensible thing. I called 911.
As the dispatcher answered, I was starting to doubt my decision. But, I convinced myself I was being a good citizen, helping rid the back country of dangerous wild bears.
Dipatcher: "911, what's your emergency?"
Me: "I just saw a bear."
Dispatcher: "Mm-hmm?"
Me: "I just moved here from Georgia. In Georgia, if we saw a bear in a residential area it was big deal, so I thought I'd call in case it was the same way here." (I winced as I heard myself talking. Just hang up. Bail now!)
Dispatcher: "Ma'am? Where are you?"
I don't remember the exact name of the road, but, seriously, it was something like Butts Farm Road--CLEARLY rural.
Dispatcher: "What is the bear doing?"
Me: "Crossing the road..." (Again, I winced. I was having visions of hearing the recording of this call on the local morning radio program the next day as EVERYONE IN AMERICA made fun of the dumb Georgia girl.)
Dispatcher: "Is he chasing anybody?" (She said this very flatly...how, I have no idea. I guess she is accustomed to crazy calls.)
Me: "No..."
Dispatcher: "Ma'am, here in Virginia, we do see the occasional bear. If they are chasing people or otherwise threatening human safety, you should call us. But if they are minding their own business, no need to get us involved."
Me: "Thank you." (DY-ING of humiliation!!!)
A few days later, there was a major traffic jam a couple of miles from where this all happened. It all started because someone hit a bear. I have always wondered if it was the same one--and if that 911 dispatcher thought of me.
14 comments:
All I can do is laugh.....
That has got to be one of the funiest things I have ever heard!
Love,
Amanda
This is really funny! Thanks for sharing. Also, what do your new labels mean?
Nicole
Nicole- When I switched to beta, they offer a chance to label your posts...it just makes it easier to find old posts. If you click on one of the labels it will refresh my page, but only bring up posts in that category. Completely Random is a bad example because this is the first post I have assigned that to...scroll down to the bottom of the Bear Hunting post and click on that label and you'll see what I mean...only posts about the funny things the kids say pop up.
BTW, I have got to get over and finish reading your story. I am only halfway through!
::laughing:: because I can picture that whole situation. BTW, as an Alabama/Mississippi girl I would have done the exact same thing!
That was too funny! :-)
I just wanted to let you know that I am still thinking about the new house/scripture thing. . . But, on a similar but slightly different note, I thought about you today. . .
I absolutely love a good, peaceful, worshipful CD. It fills my house with His spirit and His peace, and it warms my heart. There is nothing like a warm home on a winter's day filled with worshipful music and children's laughter. I have a new CD that I love, and I thought of you as I listened to it. If you don't have it, I think you'd love it!! It is called Sing Over Me. It is actually a lullaby CD with artists like Christy Nockels (Watermark), ERin O'donnell, and Nichole Nordeman. It is mostly sweet praise songs. Precious. Peace for my home! I think you might really like it!! Just thought of you. . .
Oh, I was having a bad afternoon and really needed a good laugh, and this made me laugh out loud! Thank you so much for sharing!
Ok Jenmom that was funnier than a Boomama story seriously. Man I would absolutely die if I saw a bear in real life. I would be for callin 911 fo sure and I wouldn't have been as calm as you either.
Toooo funny.
If I ever come near Atlanta I'll call you and we could go look for one, from a distance!!
I posted a response to your comment about Sara. Thank you so much for sharing that with me. It truly brought tears to my eyes. Also, I updated on the bedtime, naptime, naked boys going pee pee in the bed dilemma! We may have found at least a temporary solution should your trio ever develop this habit.
Thanks for that story, I literally laughed out loud, too funny!!
Jen,
I can totally picture you in this situation! It made me laugh out loud. I'm going to tell mom and dad to read this one, too. I know they would appreciate it, having lived with you for a summer!
Maria
This cracked me UP. I read it out loud to my husband who thought it was equallly funny! Hee hee!
Hey Jennifer! It's Julia Pratt here, again. My mom and I are planning a trip to Atlanta very soon, and I'd love to get your recommendations on children's clothing shops. I always love what Kate, Ryland, and Parker are wearing especially the coordinating outfits! Any chance you'd be willing to share? If so email me at juliapratt@hargray.com. Thanks!
This is too funny! If my husband and nephew weren't watching a movie next to me, I would have been waaay to loud laughing.
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