About 100 years ago when I was in 1st grade is when the fear began. We lived close to our school and so my brother(s) and I would walk home for lunch most days. This particular afternoon as I approached our house I looked out into the huge wide open field and hills that were adjacent to our home to find a 'dog' jumping on its hind legs trying to catch a bird that was teasing it overhead. I was so terrified of this ugly 'dog' and I didn't think I could make it up the driveway and through the courtyard fast enough before it spotted me. So I got down on all fours and crawled up the driveway as fast as I could so it wouldn't come try to catch me. It was such a freaky moment for me that I still remember exactly what I was wearing. That was my first experience with coyotes. Aside from 'coyote' being my high school mascot, I've never been a fan.
Today I had this glorious idea. I wasn't able to make it to the gym with sick Vivie in tow, but I felt the need to still get some cardio in. I had to grab a few things from the grocery store for tomorrow's Halloween parties, so why not walk? That's just what we did. And cardio...I most definitely got. Double Bob Stroller, three girls. Lexie had to walk. So she chose to ride the scooter instead. Only pretty much the walk to Alberstons consists of more hills than flats. Of course I know this, my brain just wasn't working. When Lexie's legs were just too tired, she found herself a little spot in front of Vivie's feet and lucky me, I got to push 125 ish pounds of groceries, girls, plus a scooter up and down the hills of San Elijo...more than I bargained for.
We're walking down the hill, not 6 houses from ours and out from the brush and across the street strolls a coyote. Memories from that 1st grade moment flooded my brain. Izzie's apparently made from a different mold. She was delighted--"oh, look at the dog--can I pet the dog?" Luckily Izzie was in the stroller otherwise she would have been chasing the 'dog' to pet it. I gave the girls an education on coyotes and why we don't want to pet them...I turn around and here comes another one across the street, broad daylight in our little suburban neighborhood. It's been HOT here...and those coyotes wanted water and food...or an Izzie. We hear them at night and see them at dusk, but they're getting bold and brave strolling through the neighborhoods that were built on their dens.
I think I have the 'bait' I need to subtly motivate my girls to get their room clean, jobs done, etc. They are generally great, but we all need 'bait!' Mean mommie. It's either sitting in time-out on the balcony with spiders (not really spiders out there, but it's good for effect) or now sitting out on the balcony to listen to the howling coyotes...and now they know exactly what they look like. Hopefully no nightmares will plague them because then I'd just feel like a lousy, rotten mommie. Good thing they don't need this too often!
9 comments:
SCARY, in first grade and now! We lost a few cats to the coyotes when I was a kid. I'm glad you made it home okay... both times. :)
I'm not sure that I've ever seen a coyote in the wild! I would probably be pretty scared though. Glad you guys were ok, and that sweet Izzie wasn't able to chase down the "dog" to give him a nice pet down!
Seriously though...aren't they getting bold? We see them roaming up and down our streets all the time.
Our first night in this house the coyotes were busy howling it up when I put 4 year old Jakey to bed and he said, "Mommy...I don't like how this house sounds!!"
I loved the part about crawling up your driveway in your memorable first grade get-up. Very scary for you I know, but charming for us. When I was little and retarded (seriously, they thought I was retarded for a good portion of my youngest years) I loved to sit out front on the fire hydrant that was in our yard and from that perch watch traffic FOR HOURS. One specific cold and blustery morning I was performing my daily observations and I was attacked by a very large, very spikey tumbleweed that was larger than me. Of course I wasn't very big myself at that age--I was 4--but I remember the terror and the horror of it all, not the least horrifying of which was my Nanook of the North coat, complete with hood that had that fake fur on it. You remember that fur? In my memory it looks suspiciously like oppossum. Anyway, I can still remember every detail of the whole scene and that is all I wanted to say. So I know how you feel. (Wouldn't it be funny to watch a replay of those two childhood moments? We we get to heaven, let's do that.)
Now you need to add to your blog the story of what your Grandma Brower bought for you because she felt so sorry about your coyote experience.
Gosh, how many cats did we lose in Calabasas to coyotos and owls? (At least a couple dozen).
What were you wearing that day?
They run out in front of me on San Elijo all the time! Ugly little mutts, aren't they?
You do have a bunch over by you. I used to run over there and would see them all of the time! Good job walking around all of the hills, you looked like it was a piece of cake (when I saw you walking).
Ack, scary!!
I remember that happening a lot when I lived in NP - they would go up and down the streets howling and hungry..we'd have to bring inside our little dog to make sure she didn't get eaten! (Which did happen to a lot of cats my friend Kj had - so sad.)
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