Once upon a time in 2001 a teddy was born to a family. The teddy arrived several months before the baby. The teddy was given in celebration of the expectation of a first born son.
The teddy and the baby were perfect. The teddy and the baby were the same size. The baby and the teddy shared the same bed. Sometimes the new mom hugged the teddy because he was much quieter then the baby.
Each month the mother took a picture of her baby next to the teddy.
(Three months)
Each month the baby grew as the teddy remained steadfast.
(Nine months)
Months turned into years and milestones were marked to the teddy reference.
(Two years)
As the baby grew, he became attached to the teddy. Teddy provided constant companionship. Teddy slept silently beside him. Teddy could calm his toddler storms.
As teddy became increasingly necessary to daily activities, the wear and tear started showing…
A missing bow.
A lopsided mouth.
A floppy mended neck.
Because this teddy had been born to a very wise mother, a search was started for a duplicate teddy. A teddy to hug while the original was in the wash. A teddy to hold away from home. A teddy to relieve the increasing worry over potential teddy-loss.
The mother searched, hunted and Googled. The teddy replacement news was not good. This was a special teddy. A limited edition teddy. A teddy only sold for one season at Gymboree.
Yet, a glimmer of hope…eBay.
Surely someone in the world would sell teddy. The mother watched the site of auctions patiently. There were many teddies, but no teddies that would do.
Until…
One day the mother saw this teddy on eBay. He was perfect in every way. He looked identical in every way. He was bid on with excitement. He was won in triumph. The search was over. A new teddy is on his way.
The box arrived.
Something was awry.
The box was 6 inches by 6 inches.
How would such a small box hold such a dear prize?
Sometimes a picture is not worth a 1000 words. Sometimes dimensions would be helpful.
The wise mother was outfoxed by eBay. The wise mother knows when to call it quits. The wise mother called off the search and guarded the original teddy (now called BIG teddy) with her life.
Placing a mental GPS on his whereabouts.
Washing him gently.
Mending him with care.
To this day the boy still sleeps with his teddy
(shhhhhh).
And on this day as the wise mother tucked the two in bed she thought how foolish it was to think that either one of them could be replaced.
This was originally published on August 20 ,2008
Those ebay tricky bastards … I hate when I get something online and when it comes it’s way smaller than I thought it was. Kind of like when I was in college and I wanted to hook up with a guy only to discover … well … you get the point.
OMG – that actually made me tear up- how sweet!
Fantastic story! And hilarious. I’m now off to Stumble it….
My granddaugther had a cloth “doll” that we called “Cone Head Baby” because the heat came to a big point. Katya loved Cone Head Baby and she went everywhere. One day she dropped her on the sidewalk in Brooklyn, NY. My daughter searched for her and found Cone Head Baby in the gutter. She took her home and gave her a thorough soaking and washing so she could go back with Katya. Another day we were walking by a yucky second hand store in Brooklyn and I let out a scream, “Cone Head Baby”. There in the window was a new CHB in a box. We went inside and bought her. We figured it would be good to have a spare. The new CHB was not faded and had all her stuffing. Guess what? Katya did not like her like she did her original CHB. CHB II has been donated and she still has the original but she doesn’t have the attachment like she did as a baby and toddler. Katya will be 8 and has long moved on.
Very sweet…
So Sweet. I have a little clown doll that was made for me 40 years ago…he has been “fixed” numerous times…hang on to that bear, he’s wonderful.
In our house, Grandma is on emergency standby for any necessary surgery on the necessary — discontinued and unavailable anywhere — stuffed sheep.
Oh, how sweet! We have blankie, which she still guards with her life. I keep trying to frame it, but she won’t let me.
I still sleep with mine. His name's Steve & he's more important in bed than the hubby.
I have had my teddy bear since the day I was born. I am 41 now. Teddy bear and I have only spent about 5 nights apart, ever. One night was a scary one because he had been forgotten in a hotel when I was in my 20s. EEEEKKKK! Luckily, he was there when I returned a day later. Teddy looks…. loved. And he has been. In my childhood he was washed many times. He no longer can stand that, but luckily I no longer puke on him, either.
What has saved my teddy’s life is that my mom gave him “pajamas” when I was a pre-teen. His first set of pajamas covered everything except his head. His second set completely covered him head to toe. He was shiny and new but none of his old self showed. It was ok, I knew he was in there, I could feel his heart talking to mine. He has had 3 sets of new shiny pajamas in his life (bright shiny new fur each time). At times he had a few face, too, but usually it would fall off, which was ok with me, I knew it wasn’t his real face. Teddy, under his current pajamas, is almost nothing but dust. His original fur body has fallen apart that much. So I can never give him new pajamas again by removing the current ones. Teddy has never been a problem in regards to boyfriends, or my husband. He has always been accepted nicely. I love my teddy so much. He is my #1 most important thing I own and could never be replaced. HE is the thing I grab in a fire. I’ve had lots of other furry friends in my life. But teddy and I have been together since day 1 and I plan to have him until the end of my days, squished beside me every night as I sleep. I love him.
Melissa R