"All the books tell you that if the grizzly comes for you, on no account should you run. This is the sort of advice you get from someone who is sitting at a keyboard when he gives it. Take it from me, if you are in an open space with no weapons and a grizzly comes for you, run. You may as well. If nothing else, it will give you something to do with the last seconds of your life."
~~Bill Bryson, A Walk In The Woods
Ha! I love it! Makes me want to get more in shape so I may actually have a chance at said running. Then the last seconds of my life won't be me bemoaning the fact that, "If I'd only gotten more in shape so I could run..."
ReplyDeleteI can identify with that issue all too well!
DeleteFor so many years, when Annie and I walked before school, in the darkness, I dreamed about getting mauled by a bear. Never happened. Now I don't know what to do with the last few seconds of my life, if the darn bears are not going to cooperate.
ReplyDeleteIt is a little bit of a bummer when the wildlife won't cooperate, isn't it?
DeleteSweet! and thank you! Now I think I might just have to read that book again.... maybe hit the Pacific Crest Trail this summer (yeah, for about three days - whom do you think you are kidding, O'Neill?)
ReplyDeleteDigging this quote out of the quote notebook made me consider reading it again, too. Along with The Thunderbolt Kid. I was telling Hubby I needed to find my copy of Kid, which is still packed away somewhere from our move (almost a year ago, now) and just talking about it with him got me giggling again. If you do the Pacific Crest--even half a day of it--a) you're a better woman than me and b) please, oh please, take notes and share.
DeleteFunny! I read a book called Bear Attacks, which since I am freaked out by bears, my husband said was a very bad idea. He was partially right. I did learn which kind of bear I should fight and which I should play dead......of course, I have forgotten which is which.
ReplyDeleteHere's hoping you never have to attempt to retrieve that knowledge under distress. I still get a smile thinking of your post about seeing & hearing big, scary animals EVERYWHERE after reading about the Zanesville thing.
DeleteI *love* A Walk in the Woods. I read several chapters while sitting in Denver airport a few years ago and had to stop at least 3 times because I was laughing so hard people near me wanted to know what I was reading.
ReplyDeleteHubs has always wanted to see a bear. I, however, have not. Last September, however, we both kind of got our wish. Eep!
F-ing Brilliant!!! :D
ReplyDelete