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Heartwings Love Notes 961 - A Cherished Toy Remembered

Heartwings says, "Toys that last are often the most treasured."

When I was a young child, my very most favorite toy was my teddy bear. He had arms and legs that moved freely up and down and fur-like outsides. His glass eyes were not sewn on, but were stuck in on long pins. His paws had a velvet covering, and his nose and mouth were embroidered in black thread. His "fur" was a light grey. Over time some of it rubbed away. I took him with me everywhere I was allowed to, and I always slept with him at night. Mysteriously he was usually on the floor by morning, something I never could understand until later on, when I was told that I was a restless sleeper.

One of our dogs chewed on his left ear, making it raggedy, so I added a blue beret I had in my doll clothes collection to cover it. When I was in the first grade, one day I took him to school. When the beret covering his ear slipped away, classmates made fun of him. I never did that again. When I was in the second grade, my parents went south with me and we lived down there for several months, while my father performed an assignment for his business. My school work continued, and my mother taught me every day.

While we were living there, we took a trip to an extensive garden in the Everglades. My legs grew tired, and I sat to rest on a bench with my teddy. As we were driving home, I suddenly realized he wasn't with me. My heart sank. I begged my parents to turn around and go back. My pleas were to no avail. I never saw my teddy again. In today's world most children have more say and their wants are given more attention. The majority of parents today would have made a strong effort to retrieve the cherished toy. Things have changed in the past eighty years, and certainly for the better in that respect.

Some years ago, a kind friend made me a lovely grey teddy. Dressed in a turquoise hat and cape he sits on my bed where I enjoy his presence each day, though he does not share my covers at night. My original teddy is enshrined still in my memory, where I can still see him vividly in my mind's eye. With his brown glass eyes and his worn yellowish grey fur, I envision him on a bench in the Everglades, perhaps talking with a bird or two. Or maybe he is not there any longer, but was found and treasured by another small child who gave him a good home and even took him to bed at night.

May you take pleasure even as a grownup in whatever toys might give you joy.

Did you have a cherished toy in your childhood? I'd love to hear about it, or any comments you may have. Write to me at tashahal@aol.com or tashahal@gmail.com. For more Lovenotes, please check out my web pages at www.heartwingsndfriends.com
 

I love to hear from readers and would be honored if you would comment and let me know any suggestions or thoughts. If a friend sent you this, you can sign up at my web site, www.heartwingslovenotes.com, where more love notes can be found in the archives.

Blessings and Best Regards,
Tasha Halpert
 

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