Sunday, February 19, 2006

Bear Feet

When I was young, walking around at night in my pajamas. My mom would say, “Put some socks on those bare feet.”

“I would say, “Mom, those aren’t bear feet. Those are human feet.”

I’d watch TV with my socks on. Later, she’d tuck me into bed.

In bed with my teddy bear, I’d think about his feet and mine. Soon enough I’d be thinking about how he’d sleep all winter . . . sleep all winter . . . sleep all winter. Then I’d pretend I was doing the same—going to sleep for the winter. Soon enough I’d be asleep.

Now I face another February. I still have a stuffed bear on the night stand by my bed. He has bear feet. I still wear socks. When I go to sleep each cold night, I think about hibernating under blankets for the winter. Each morning when I get up to gray sky and cold winds, I feel just like a grumpy, grizzly bear.

I see the wisdom of hibernation. I have no patience with anything. Ask me. I’d say I’d as soon be sleeping all winter, sleeping all winter like a bear. I bet the folks around me would just as soon I were sleeping too.

Even now when people say “bare feet,” I can’t help but think “bear feet,” and see them in my mind.

If you’re at all like me, don’t try to climb Mt. Everest in February. Don’t go on safari either. Learning curves and big adventures are meant for other times of year. February is meant for hibernation for people with bear feet.
—me strauss Letting me be

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

i am a sleepy and somehow drunk (vodka) bear go to sleep babe, yos was here ;)

Anonymous said...

Thank you Liz, I laughed out loud when I got to the end of this post.

"ME" Liz Strauss said...

Thanks for think of me anonymous. Thanks not what I was thinking of.
smiles,
Liz

"ME" Liz Strauss said...

Hi Lori,
I'm glad this one made you laugh. It's how I've been feeling. Hibernation not climbing Mt. Everest is the key to my state of mind these days.
Liz

Anonymous said...

*yawn* See you when the berries bloom

Anonymous said...

What a great post! As cold as it is this morning hibernation with bear feet sounds wonderful.

Hope you have a wonderful Sunday
(hugs)

"ME" Liz Strauss said...

Thank you Doug,
I'll be there when the berries bloom. You make me laugh. Thank you for that.

Liz

"ME" Liz Strauss said...

Hello mergrl,
Hibernation does sound like wonderful thing--under a nice down comforter with a book that is thrilling.

Anonymous said...

It's so difficult to climb out of that nice warm waterbed (yeah, we're old hippies - LOL) with a nice warm man curled up around me on a cold cold Sunday morning (7 degrees!)

But reading wonderful writing like yours makes it worth it!

"ME" Liz Strauss said...

Hi Marti,
How nice of you to stop by the blog! Thank you for coming out from under that comforter. Hibernating seems so much better.

smiles,
Liz

Anonymous said...

I sooo wish I could hibernate. Cute bear!!! Lovely post.

"ME" Liz Strauss said...

Hi Sassy,
Yeah, hibernation sure does sound good at this time of year, especially with a teddy bear.

Good to see you Sassy.
Liz