I got lost in the woods a few weeks ago. I was walking on an unmarked but well-trodden trail in the Berkshires when I became hopelessly lost. I had been walking for about 40 minutes when I decided it was time to turn back. I could have either turned around or taken what looked like a loop back to where I began. I chose the latter. After a while, the trail became less clear and soon I could no longer see it at all. I called a friend who knows this area well, but he was unacquainted with this particular trail. I kept on, using my orienteering skills acquired in childhood, keeping the sun at my back and what I thought was the stream that had been on my right coming in was now at my left.
The ground beneath me changed from solid to mushy and swampy. I started to lose my footing and fell several times. My glasses fell out of my pocket and I couldn’t find them. It’s hard to find your glasses without your glasses. I passed what looked like a fire circle, with logs for people to sit on and gather. I decided it was time to call for help. First, I called the front desk of the place where we were staying. They offered to send a maintenance worker to find me. I envisioned that as ending with two missing people instead of one.
Swallowing my pride, I called 911. A delightful woman answered and assured me I wasn’t going to die in the woods…not on her watch. She asked my name, where I entered the woods, and my age. Do I have to tell my age? I asked. She said yes, but agreed when I insisted I wasn’t your average septagenarian. Kind of her. Then she asked how much charge was left in my phone. I don’t know, I had to answer, since I lost my glasses and can’t see it. Okay, she said, no problem. Do you have any water or provisions with you? No, I said, why? Exactly how long am I going to be out here?!?! She assured me they were going to find me. She then said she was sending me a link so that she could determine my coordinates. I reminded her I wouldn’t be able to see the link, but I’d keep poking at the screen until something worked. And so I did. She was able to see where I was and notified the fire and police departments who sent out rescuers. The woman asked me at least two more times about water and provisions until I asked her nicely to stop. Then I heard her speak to someone on her radio about me probably being in Bear State Park. Bear! I said, exactly how many bears are we talking about? She assured me the bears aren’t that hungry this time of year (clearly a lie since they are definitely in the market for yummy food before they hibernate). Furthermore, I really wasn’t inclined to believe, at that moment, the old saying about brown bears not liking humans as much as black bears. So I had nothing to worry about since I was in brown bear country.
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In any case, the fire and police rescuers were on the way. The nice woman told me to yell as loud and for as long as I could. I’ve never had a good teacher’s voice, though my kids might argue I can yell just fine when I want to, so I did my best. The replies came from two different directions. I asked which I should reply to. The right, I was told, and so I did. The left one stopped calling.
After a while, I saw my rescuer in the distance. As he neared, I heard and saw that he was panting. That made me a little nervous, but once he arrived, my knees buckled and he held me up before he led me out of the forest for a mile or so to a road. I had never been that far from civilization! An ambulance awaited. The EMTs took my vitals. Blood pressure: 110/70. Resting pulse: 72. I do stress pretty well.
They drove me home after I rejected a trip to the hospital. It was dark by now and I was ready for bed.
Why am I telling you this story?
Because of what I experienced after being lost in the woods. For days afterwards, I couldn’t stop thinking about what might have been. What if I hadn’t had my phone with me? What if I had no service in the woods (which often happens in the Berkshires)? What if my phone had run out of juice? What if I’d broken my leg or hurt my head when I fell? What if it had gotten dark before I was found? What if Bear State Park lived up to its name?
I was extremely lucky. That haunts me, as does the realization that luck wasn’t all of it.
I had some control over the situation that I didn’t exert. I could have been much better prepared. I was careless, and even a bit foolhardy. I will definitely do things differently in the future. I will still walk and probably even walk alone. However, I will make sure someone knows where I entered a trail; I’ll bring water, if not other provisions. I’ll make sure my phone is charged. I’ll watch the clock. I’ll carry a loud whistle and make sure my glasses are in a zippered pocket. In other words, I’ll be more careful.
Last week, we averted some dangerous developments in our country through hard work, activism, and voting. We paid attention and took the signs seriously. We believed our actions mattered. And they did. The election results gave us a crucial rebalance in our government. For that, we are grateful. But we need to protect that rebalance and make sure it remains in place. We need to continue to work hard to ensure the health and welfare of all, the resources of our land, and the fate of our planet. We need to continue to plan for the future and take care of the present. We can’t count on good luck alone. It’s too unpredictable, and the stakes are too high. Our work around this election can’t be a one-off.
Life is fragile, for sure. There is much we cannot control. Yet there are many ways we can influence outcomes and prepare for challenges, personally and collectively. Leaving things to chance is just too fraught with danger.
Be careful out there.
Therese (she/her/hers)
Judy (she/her/hers)
Didi (she/her/hers)
Sarah (she/her/hers)
Leading Ladies Executive Team
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ladies@leadingladiesvote.org