Zoo Keeping: Week 3

When I initiated the "Animal of the Day" education plan I knew my resources were robust. Our home is full of wildlife art and crafts. As I gathered materials and momentum, it was clear I had a colorful curriculum to produce "Bear Week". The Easter Bunny would be preceded by five glorious days of bears.

And as I colored, researched, and lesson planned, I found hope in bears - their survival; their will; their uniqueness. 

Sunday started with the polar bear. A baby polar bear is born into a world of bitter cold and ice. For over two years, a mother polar bear protects her young from freezing to death, starving, and from arctic wolves. On some of the harshest places on Earth, a mother's determination and instinct are what keep polar bears roaming and roaring. 

When social isolation began, our family of four started roaming and roaring, room-to-room. Instead of scanning endless miles of ice sheets and glaciers, we observed paths full of piles. We set out on laundry expeditions. We discovered that "working from home with a 5-year-old and 3-year-old" is a synonym for "not working". But, like polar bears, we adapted. We got fierce. To survive these elements we had the ultimate element - perseverance. Being together is not harsh. It is a blessing. Think like a polar bear mother. Never give in. Never give up. 

Monday was the black bear. Black bears are found all across the United States. We learned about the true story of "Miracle", a baby black bear saved by a wildlife rescue team in Arkansas. There was little hope when the 5-pound cub was found. Alone and sick, she would have died if someone did not try to help. Five months later, Miracle was 90 pounds and released back into the Arkansas wilderness. 

I am grateful for all those people trying to help right now. There will be more stories like Miracle's. Stories about doctors and nurses and first responders and volunteers who helped those in need.  Like black bears, those stories will be scattered across the country. I am not sure when we will be released as a society, but for today, a sincere thank you to every medical professional on the planet. 

Tuesday was the grizzly bear. Grizzly bears stand on the river's edge and patiently wait for salmon to make their silly upstream swim. Each salmon needs to get airborne in order to find passage. Grizzlies know this. To watch this Mother Nature event - in slow-motion on YouTube - you appreciate the patience. Grizzly bears fail most of the time when salmon fishing, but they stay still. They stay calm. They are disciplined. 

Distancing is frustrating. Feeling stuck is physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually draining. You feel like you are never going to sink your teeth into that salmon...but you stay on the river's edge. It's uneasy not knowing how long this is going to take. And sometimes doing very little requires the most energy. Think like a grizzly bear. Be patient. Your time will come. 

Wednesday was the sun bear. The sun bear is the smallest bear on Earth. It climbs great heights in the rain forests of China and India. The sun bear is rare and rarely seen. Its distinctive golden chest resembles the biggest star in our sky. 

While there is a general gloom in our world right now, the sun still shines. My girls and I have been climbing trees and running in the yard like a bunch of damn sun bears. You rarely see a grown man down on all fours dashing down a hill. We are not climbing great heights yet we are finding greatness in the little things.

Thursday finished with the giant panda and the koala bear, a comedic combo to culiminate Bear Week. 99% of a giant panda's diet is bamboo, which leads to almost constant pooping. While we, as humanity, are feeling sorry for ourselves, just know that a giant panda woke up today prepared for a terribly unnutritious regimine of bamboo eating and vigorous pooping. Meanwhile, the koala bear has never really even woken up. It sleeps up to 22 hours a day. And, it is not even a bear - it is a marsupial. Talk about an identity crisis.

We watched the movie Sing to bring Bear Week all together. A koala named Buster Moon says it best, "Don't let fear stop you from doing the things you love!"

Have a Happy Easter, Johnstown. Draw inspiration from bears and marsupials. Live differently yet love the same. Make the most out of this social hiberation.

Giant pandas even poop while napping.