July 14, 2003
Now let me tell you the whole story. I would like to stress that everything you are about to read is true.
Friday night, I was at Ben's place watching some movies with a couple buddies. The room was dark, except for the soft glow of the television. Despite this darkness and my unfamiliarity with Ben's DVD player, I had been elected to get the show going. I managed to start up the movie, but the volume was quite low, so I had to hop over to the stereo controls a few feet away. At this very moment when I was most vulnerable...
The bear attacked!
The next few seconds felt like an eternity. The bear and I struggled, locked in fierce combat. The bear managed to rake my arm with its sharp claws. My "friends" nearby did nothing but stare in disbelief--and who can blame them? At last, I was able to conquer my adversary, leaving him sprawled motionless on the floor.
Understanding the unlikeliness of being attacked by a bear in a friend's living room, I tried to make sense of what had just happened. It turns out that the bear was stuffed and had been hanging on the wall. When I hopped up to change the volume, I ran into the bear's paw and knocked him off the wall! And as I caught the falling creature, I received a genuine 3-inch scratch from one of the claws!
And here's the pictures that prove it--or at least help you to understand a little better...
I think this event can only mean one thing:
You are now truely a Baylor Bear!
My favorite salad topping! So good to hear from you! I think you may be right. At last I can understand what it means to be a Baylor Bear. (Insert wild bear growl here)
Hi Nick; I heard about the "Forrester" moment as the girls described it to me. I wish I could have been there! We'll be in Asheville on the night of August 6th, celebrating the grandparents 50th. Talk to you then!
We expect to see the scars when we're there!
Mrs. P! I'm excited that you all are coming to town, and I will do my best to preserve the scars. See you in August!
Just for another point of view. In the brilliant description of this furious battle I may add a bit. In Mr. Nick Cochran's account it states. "At this very moment when I was most vulnerable...The bear attacked! The next few seconds felt like an eternity. The bear and I struggled, locked in fierce combat."
May I add that mighty hunter Nick gave the first blow... or should I say hop. Not an estimated hop(or even planned), but a spastic rabbit type hop with honorable yet gleeful intent of turning down the stereo sound when tragedy hit. It all happened so quick neither the bear nor the hopper knew what happened at first. Nick paused somewhat helpless with pulsing eyes as if tired and fatigued from the intense battle with a soberly stunned glare in his face while the bear's pressing magnitude of claws and fur held him down.
After the battle had ceased Daniel and I reassured Nick and the bears performance by incessant laughter.
It's been three weeks.