Once upon a time, a daddy gave a little girl a teddy bear whose name was Puggy. Puggy became the little girl's best friend and went with her wherever she went. Even when the little girl grew up she still loved Puggy and kept him by her side. Many years later the little girl who was now a grown woman got married and had a little girl of her own. The little girl had some special stuffed friends of her own but as she grew she'd look at Puggy sitting on her mother's bed and knew he was a very special bear. One day as the girl was packing her things to go off to college, her mother came in to her room with Puggy. She gave her daughter a hug and handed Puggy to her. "Take him to college with you," she said, "For he is very wise and when you are lonely for me, you can give him a hug and he will tell you that I love you." When her friends would ask the daughter why there was a worn out teddy bear on her bed, she'd say, "That's Puggy. He's earning his PhD. in life". Time passed and the pages of life turned and turned. Stories were told to children and grandchildren until one day, the house where Puggy was first given to a little girl by her daddy had to be packed up and sold. Puggy went with the girl who took him to college to help put away the memories and get the house ready for a new family. It was a sad time but at the same time it was a special time. Not too many bears get to say good bye to the house where they were first loved and cherished. But Puggy, being the wise and loving bear that he was understood when the girl placed him in a little chair and took his picture, it was her way of remembering- remembering the (grand)daddy who loved her mom (his little girl); remembering her mom who loved her enough to let Puggy go; and remembering all the stories surrounding the home which were never to be forgotten as long as they lived in her heart.
I had hoped to take a picture of a teddy bear picnic with Leigh this summer, but Micah's birth and all our car woes sort of side-tracked our plans. So I decided to pull out this shot from my archives (taken in 1996 with my Yashica FX3 then scanned in my computer) and post it instead. The little story is the history of this beloved bear and the last time I was at the home which belonged to my grandparents (Mom's parents) where I took this picture.
awwww! ann, he looks worn out and all, like a monument and witness to love and caring in the family. the processing is perfect. the story is heartwarming. the love that gave it character, priceless!
Wonderful. My husband always gives me the business because I save "junk" but there are times when a piece of junk will show up and he's the one with tears in his eyes.
Thank you Marybeth, Vikki, Sandi, Michael, Alice, Maggie, Bev, Kerri, Hope, Tracey, Nada, Dione, Jackie, Claire and Roe Jan! I'm so glad you've enjoyed Puggy's (and my) story!
@gratefulness @jackie8 @summerfield Thank you so much for the favs Sandi, Jackie and Vikki!!!
@salza Thank you Sally! You are absolutely right!
Thank you Timothy!
Thank you Rick!