Archive for the 'Stuffed Animals' Category
Everyone seems to have a lucky number. For many, the number seven will suffice because it already has a lucky connotation. You can bet your bottom dollar that no one in their right mind would choose 13. I’ve noticed that many hotels and even cruise ships don’t have a 13th floor; the elevator goes straight from 12 to 14. Whether it’s something to bet on or intended to be a sign of coincidence, you could ask anyone what number they prefer and I’m sure it wouldn’t take them more than a few seconds to give you a definite answer.
My lucky number is six. It’s not a jersey number or the number of men I dated before I met my husband. It dates back all the way to my childhood when I was about six or seven years old. It was Easter and my family had gone to our neighborhood Easter egg hunt. Before the games began the announcer had mentioned that there were several eggs with special marking that indicated a prize. I found an orange egg marked by the number six and won a stuffed animal. And what became even more special about the number is that this stuffed animal – a bunny in a purple suit – became my favorite stuffed animal of all time.
Most children grow up with several stuffed animals and receive many throughout their lives. Usually, however, one stuffed animal becomes the most special to a child and must travel everywhere with him. Failure to bring this special animal along on car trips, to the doctor, etc. can spell disaster for the child. And if the animal become irreparably soiled or destroyed, it is nothing short of apocalypse.
This may seem dramatic, but most parents would agree. That’s why it’s a good idea to buy extras of the stuffed animal that your child favors most. I had a friend whose son loved a teddy bear that played a song when you pulled a string. This bear would often become soiled from being left out in the rain or being sucked on by the boy, and the music would stop playing after a while. My friend always had three or four backup stuffed animals – exact replicas – to replace the bear once the current one had to be thrown away. Of course, the exchange was always done in secret, and her son was never the wiser!
Though it’s sometimes hard to believe, we all were young once. Even now, most of us can revisit the whimsical days of childhood – if only for a moment – by picking up the relics of those simpler times. For instance, blowing the dust from the top of an old board game can bring back a flurry of memories. The same can be said for exploring the old family shed and seeking out a trusty toy truck.
For many, the most powerful connection to childhood is embodied by a favorite stuffed animal. As kids learn to socialize, they convey human thoughts and emotions to these constant companions. For a fleeting moment in time, these playthings and their owners are practically inseparable. It’s nice to know that such a link still exists whenever one feels like waxing nostalgic.
When I was a young girl I found great comfort in my collection of stuffed toys. I would gather all of my stuffed animals around my bed and read them bedtime stories. When I was finally ready to go to bed I would cuddle with my two favorite stuffed animals; Molly the piglet and Bogart the bunny.
I kept these stuffed animals all throughout my teenage years. When I went to college I didn’t want to take them along for fear of being made fun of, so I packed them away in boxes and put them in my parents’ garage. Years later after my mom passed away, I was looking through the boxes and found them. I had them professionally cleaned and now I display them in my dining room.