There's A Mountain Lion In Central Park

-Devlyn Steele

A tradition in my family I grew up with is taking walks. We took walks after meals, we took walks on weekends, we took walks or hikes traveling. Taking walks has many positive effects of which one is, you never know what you might discover.

I remember one spring weekend day where after a big lunch we set out for a walk in Central Park. I was 8 years old and always excited about going on our walks. We never had plans or a destination. It wasn't about going to do anything other than a walk. As children we didn't need to bring our ipods, cell phones, or video games, the walk was enough entertainment. Ok, we didn't have those things then, but all the same, I am sure my parents would not have allowed us to bring those on our walks.

So we set out from our house, parents, kids and faithful dog. Our dog was a beautiful German Shepherd who was very loving and playful, but also very protective of the family members.  She wouldn't like it if while we were walking that too much space separated us. Like a sheep dog, she would try and nudge us all closer together so she could keep an eye on all of us.

Approaching the park was exciting as you could see lots of people coming and going from the exits. As you entered, you felt as though you left the city and emerged into a new world.  Walking in the park on the weekends was fun, as they shut the park drives from car traffic allowing pedestrians to walk freely. On warm sunny weekend days people were all over enjoying the park with many different types of activities, Frisbee, biking, sitting, reading and more.

As we walked, you would hear different types of music and see an endless variety of people. Although we had taken this walk many times, it always looked different and you would always see new things. It bonded us as a family as we shared adventures. On this particular day, we would discover that there was a mountain lion in Central Park, who knew?

We were walking along the road through the park in the east 70's when all of a sudden our dog who always stayed behind keeping on eye on us took the lead position. She then crouched down in attack mode shoulders high and head low taking very slow steps forward. I thought that there was another dog coming and that she was getting ready to fight as she start to growl in a low hum. We couldn't see another dog or anything else and we were very confused as to what got her so upset when she lunged forward parking and growling at something we had never noticed before, a statue of a mountain lion in an attack position on the rocks above.

My father then had to pull her hard as we laughed because she was not buying that it was a statue, it was very funny. The statue is called "Still Hunt" by Edward Kemeys. Some say it is a panther, others say it is a mountain lion, which in reality are two different names for the same species. It is located on East 76^th street and ominous in a black-bronze configuration on the rocks  peering over ready to attack.

Although we had walked by there many times, if it were not for our dog, we might not have ever noticed it. Those walks filled us with adventures and taught all of us kids to be active, exercise and be curious about the world. So many of our walks are memories I carry forever and a tradition we all continue in our own lives. Get active in your life, we seem to think that exercise is about going to the gym or laboring, when a walk can do the trick. Walks will get you out of the house, and allow your brain to breath. Walks will help with depression, temper, anxiety and release stress.

We often look for big answers when simple things can be just what the doctor ordered. Walks are truly amazing. Next time you can't think of what to do, get out and take a walk. Walking with family, friends, or alone, you are getting exercise, exploring, and when with others, bonding, while doing you a world of good. You also never know what you might discover. Who knows, there might be a mountain lion waiting for you.