by Joyce Bueter

Created on: January 06, 2010

It was funny, after the fact that is.  At the time it was happening it was definitely not funny.  The family, consisting of a mom, dad and five little chillun, (children for those of you up north) were in the middle of an early spring vacation.  At the time of this telling they are in the great state of California getting ready to enter in to Yosemite Park.  It was mid may and the snow was not yet gone from the park.  The snow pile reached the roof top of the cabin located at the entrance of the park.

They were told it was the first day of the season and they were one of the first to be admitted.  Had they been a day earlier they would not have gotten in.  They paid their admittance fee and drove their nine passenger station wagon with the small camp trailer trailing along behind into Yosemite Park.  Pictures were taken with the huge redwood trees.  Oohs and ahhs were audible from the family fresh from the desert country directly to the east where any kind of a tree was a sight to behold and worth a second look.

They drove through the park for awhile then picked a spot they thought would be suitable for parking their trailer, setting up camp and spending the night.  Supplies were unloaded the folding table set up, a small fire started in the spot allotted for it and so far all was well with the desert dwellers.

The kids played around releasing pent up energy accumulated from the long hours in the car while the two adults proceeded with the task of preparing the evening meal.  The scenery was breathtaking in Yosemite and everyone had a wonderful time exploring as much as they could without getting to far away from camp.

Night time arrived bringing a definite chill to the air. After an evening around the little campfire everyone was ready to turn in.  It had been a wonderful day and the mood was relaxed and comfortable.  The small trailer would only sleep two so mom and dad took that while the three girls let down the seats in the station wagon and made their bed there. The boys decided to be adventurous and laid their sleeping bags on the ground beside the folding table.

After only a few moments all was quiet and the exhausted kids were sound asleep when Dad heard a gentle rustling on the side of the trailer.  He picked up a corner of the curtain which covered the small window and saw something moving.  He squinted a little and there in the bright moonlight stood a bear which looked about 7 feet tall.  He said, “Oh my God, it’s a bear!   Mom gasped thinking of her two boys out there and said in a panicked voice, “go get the boys!”

Dad’s reply will linger in family history forever after:  “well, wait till that bear leaves”.

The bear did leave after walking right between the two sleeping lads, stuck his head in a couple of sacks, leaned on the folding table which collapsed under his weight, then ambled off through the camp.  He could be heard going through garbage cans looking for food after his long winter’s hibernation.  Mom & Dad immediately woke the boys up and directed them in no uncertain terms to get in the trailer.  “But why?” came the age old question.  Because “I’m telling you to, we’ll talk about it in the morning.” came the terse reply  

In the morning they did talk about it but Mom couldn’t get over Dad and his now immortal line.  “Well, wait till that bear leaves.”

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