The Bear Tale

I had nothing to worry about when it came to wondering if Frank would like the beef stroganoff. He ate the whole batch in less than 15 minutes, and it left me wondering what it tasted like. Guess I’ll have to make it again and find out. He usually doesn’t eat when he has to get up early again in the morning, but he said he was starved. How could I say no to that cute little face he puts on when he wants something?
As several people asked about the bear incident, I suppose I should tell the tale. I assure you it was nothing to scream about, and I actually enjoyed it. I was outside by the gazebo practicing Handel’s Messiah, when I heard a loud crunching behind me. I froze and cocked my ear to listen. I never suspected for a minute that it was bear. So I turned around, and not 5 feet away was a good-sized black bear. My very first thought was, “oops.” As if it were possible, I think the bear was even more surprised than I was. For lack of anything better to do, I just kept playing as if I had never seen a thing. And lo and behold, the bear just sat itself down and stayed there until I finished. Mercifully I had my back turned, but even as I was packing up my violin to go, the bear just sat there. Looking back I wonder how I had the nerve to keep on playing with a bear so close I could smell it. But I’m still alive, so I must not play too badly. I rather suspect that if I would still screech on my fiddle like I did a few years ago, I would not be alive today. No creature can stand a screeching instrument – not even a house dog. With all the practicing I’ve been doing lately on my technique, plus all the tips from all my wonderful friends in the music world, I have greatly improved in tone and intonation. Still, I am very grateful that it amused the bear to listen to me. Had it not been so entertaining, I may not have lived to tell about it. Frank was not as amused as I was about the bear…he was concerned that it happen again and I not be so fortunate. We had a brown bear come right up to the door, so they are quite bold. So while I am allowed to go outside, it is generally advised I not do so. I worry more about my instrument than I do me…it would be so sad to see my cello or violin torn apart by some angry beast. We have more than just bears to worry about…we have bobcats, panthers, snakes, gators, and a host of other animals and insects. I don’t feel closed in like I did in Dunnellon; mainly because of the lakes. There is a sense of openness, yet seclusion, and I enjoy it very much. It is worth the trouble of having to be careful.

I hear there is a cello teacher at the college, and I am going to ask and find out about classes. Since my cello teacher retired I have been wanting to get a new teacher, but my parents could barely afford having two daughters taking music lessons. As it was, my teacher was doing my lessons for nothing just because we got along real well. But I really would like to have a cello teacher again, and one that’s really hard on me and will help me be a better cellist. I love playing cello, but I love playing violin too. And with the help of my cello teacher and friend that plays viola, they are both helping me become a part of the musicians for Ocala and beyond.