The Day we Met Nutmeg
A peaceful afternoon lunch is interrupted by a furry, lasagna-loving visitor.
The Scene is Set
We were a mix of skilled hikers and amateur chefs. This section details the crucial alignment of events that placed us, and our precious lasagna, in the path of destiny.
A Morning Hike
While we were stolling the trail, Hazel, with an encyclopedic mind for flora and fauna (with occasional help from an app), pointing out every species of plant and animal we encountered. Her keen eye and ability to differentiate between a bear ($Ursus$ $americanus$) and a bat ($Myotis$ $lucifugus$) was about to become our biggest asset.
The Lasagna Beckons
Back at the cabin, a delicious lunch of sandwiches and lasagna was being prepared. Little did we know, the aroma was about to attract an unexpected, and very large, guest.
The Startling Discovery
The peace was shattered by a shriek that could wake the dead. We all turned in a panic, and what we saw was both terrifying and majestic.
“A bear!” came the frantic cry. Although in our confusion, we all swore she had first shrieked “bat.”
Hazel was already several steps ahead of the rest of us. She knew this was no bat.
We all looked in the direction she was pointing, even though the bear was nearly 180 degrees the other way at the window over the sink. She was pointing that way because she knew the door needed to be secured to protect our precious lasagna. It took a few seconds for the rest of us to catch up with Hazel.
The Response: A Timeline of Heroism
Confronted by a bear, you need swift, decisive action. This is the moment-by-moment account of how Hazel’s quick thinking saved our cabin and our lunch.
The Photo Session
Steve and Greg, not being millennials, scrambled to find their phones for a photo op. Not being millennials they also decided it would be prudent to take photos from behind the glass instead of trying to get a selfy with Nutmeg.
Securing the Cabin
With the grace of a ninja, Hazel turned from the window to the back door, calmly closing and locking it, securing our delicious lasagna from the furry visit.
The Name
We all decided the bear needed a name. A bear from prior years had been called Cinnamon. It was only fitting, then, that this bear, with his excellent timing and sophisticated taste in Italian food, should be named Nutmeg.
The Sheriff’s Shame
As Nutmeg wandered, his presence echoed through the valley, causing chaos among our neighbors. But the real drama was yet to come.
“Apparently, one of the deputies, a man with the marksmanship of a drunken toddler, tried to shoot Nutmeg with a tranquilizer dart and missed.”
A bear of that size, moving at a snail’s pace, and you miss? The man is a menace to wildlife and public safety.
The Conclusion: A Very Big Bear
Nutmeg returned later, perhaps for afternoon tea or another glimpse of his hero, Hazel. The world may never know. But we did learn one thing for sure…
Nutmeg was very, very big.
You don’t need a tape measure to know a bear is big when you are face-to-face with him, separated only by a pane of glass.
Our New Friend, Nutmeg
We don’t know if or what Nutmeg eventually found for lunch.