One of the earliest signs of the beginning of the Advent and Christmas seasons in our house is getting the Santa Bears down from the attic. These were very soft “stuffed animals” sold by the J.L. Hudson Co. in the mid-80’s. (Hudson was originally a Detroit-based department store.) We were fortunate to receive two as gifts — one was from my mom and the other was from the priest who witnessed our marriage, Fr. Edward J. Prus.
Naturally, the “Santa Bears” went to the girls … who have “loved” them to different degrees. Grace was always the reluctant one and didn’t want hers put back up in the attic. Once she found an accomplice in Clare’s mom who advised Grace that by removing the scarf and hat, it could become a “Valentine’s bear”… So Grace’s is the one with the scarf without pom-poms…
Retired economics professor (“dismal scientist”). Married 40+ years to the love of my life; we have two grown daughters, both married, two granddaughters and a...
