by Danielle Watson

Created on: October 09, 2009   Last Updated: October 12, 2009

I do not want to be the bearer of bad news, but I have to say something about Yosemite in California, and it is partly about the bears.

Fifteen or more years ago, my family would take a trip to Yosemite biannually. We invited up to fifty friends and family to come at the same time; it became something like a reunion. At this time I was a very young girl. All the kids use to play softball between the trees where there was a large enough space. We would all go as a group at night to walk around with flashlights and run away if we heard the slightest sound of a bear or something scary. Those were the good ol' days.

I recently went back to Yosemite with my father and uncle in 2008. The trip did not go well. We were to stay in the canvas tent with no heater to get in on a deal. The park had a promotion where if the temperature number of the night was less than 35 degrees ($35) they would pay you back the difference. When we got there, the young reservation employee stated that they did not have this program and she said it sounded silly. We asked to speak to the manager, but she said he was not in. I saw a guy behind her who looked like a manager, but let it pass. We are African-American, but I don't know if it played into our problem. She gave us something and we went to the two cabins we rented. But at the door we realized we did not have the keys, so we went back. We asked to speak to the manager, and the same guy I saw earlier came to talk to us. He was very gracious, knew about the program, and we were on our way. It was an exciting night for me trying to go to sleep in 23 degree weather.

We woke up and I made my trek down to the showers. After showering, I walked up the cabins. I looked under a cabin and I could see two people's feet with cool looking boots. I like fashion, so I was going to go over and ask about them. As I walked two or three steps, I see a mother bear and her cub walking toward me. As quickly as possible, I unlocked the bolt, went into the cabin, locked a little door lock, sat on the bed, and turned off the light. I sat on the edge of my bed trying to be as quiet as possible. I told myself I would not go out the door until someone came to get me. In a few minutes I heard my father calling me, so I opened the door and was relieved. He too saw the bears and had one fake charged at him.

The next night we decided to go to the pizza parlor. We ate pizza, and sat and talked to everyone by the fireplace. Soon the three of us decided to go to our

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