Member-only story
A Bear for All Seasons
Six Word Story Challenge: Freestyle
This bear is the bomb (pop)!
A house in my neighborhood has a large Zuni bear sculpture in the front yard. It has been there as long as the home, and for years it was an all-white bear that stood in stark contrast to the green and brown landscape.
When the house sold, I thought the sculpture might be removed, but instead, the new owners embraced it.
In the last three years, the previously white bear has been painted every month to match the season.
The bear has been transformed into a witch, a bunny, Santa Claus, a school bus, a leprechaun, a tulip garden, and a popsicle. The design is different each month, and I have never seen a theme repeated.
It takes several hours to paint and accessorize the bear, and Colorado weather does not always cooperate. Regardless of the temperature or weather conditions, the bear changes into a new creation every month, like clockwork.
The family’s creativity and dedication to bringing joy to the neighborhood is inspiring. People routinely drive by to admire the bear, often stopping to take photos.
A previously out-of-place bear has become a community treasure — sometimes, it takes a few years for our true colors to emerge.
Thank you for reading. You might also like this one.