I know most kids had a special stuffed animal or blanket
when they were younger, and I was no exception, but sometimes I felt like I
took having a beloved stuffed animal to the extreme. His name is Old Puff and he
is a little pink bear thing that jingles. Compared to his original state, Old
Puff is hardly even recognizable, considering all the damage that has been done
to him over the eighteen years I have had him. Once bright pink, he is now a
dull, dirty, pale color. The nose was my pacifier during my early years and is now
basically non-existent. The jingle is pathetic and can hardly be heard and I am
pretty sure he is missing over half his stuffing. Old Puff has been to Hawaii,
Belgium, California, Burger King, the Country Club, Beechwood Cinemas, boarding
school in Tennessee, Kairos, and has graced the congregation at church with his
presence a few times. Once, on a family trip back from South Carolina, I
realized halfway home that I had left him in the Wendy’s bathroom in Charleston
and did not stop crying until my dad turned the car around to go back for him.
He was a chew toy for our dog, Dobby, a pillow on road trips, and a comfort during
storms. I am notorious for losing things, but even after eighteen years I have managed
to keep up with this ratty, old bear. That is not to say I have not had my
scares from misplacing him or forgetting him somewhere, but somehow I have
always been able to find him again. He made it through a year of being tossed
around a messy and cramped dorm room, countless hours in the car, untold washes
in the washing machine, and who knows how many hotel rooms over the years. I am
not ashamed to say that I still sleep with him from time to time, although it
did take me a few years to learn that I could brave the night without him (I
just chose not to). There is no doubt that he will be accompanying me to ABAC,
if he makes it until then…
Well, first of all may I say that "little pink bear thing that jingles" kind of made me giggle a lot. Actually, a lot of it makes me giggle. I like how you put in that you brought Old Puff with you to Kairos when you listed where he's been. It's kind of really sweet but also kind of weird that you were so attached to him or still are. I think he'll make it with you at least until college. I can tell that Old Puff is just kind of your THING, which really achieves the point of this post.
ReplyDeleteThis remind of the first stuffed teddy bear I was given when I had my first, of many, surgeries. I was given then teddy bear when I was young, and I still possess it today. My parents asked me one time if I wanted to give my stuffed animals away becuase I am much older now, and I denied the question because this stuffed animal is very sentimental to me.
ReplyDeleteI love how I could tell that Old Puff meant a lot to you and well still does.He's even traveled to a lot of places and he is still in tact. It was also really cute when you made your dad go back to Charleston to retrieve Old Puff.
ReplyDeleteI really love this post, mainly because Old Puff is also a part of my childhood. I remember you refusing to sleep over at my house multiple times because you forgot Old Puff. I've also watched him "age" over the years. I love how you admitted to taking him on Kairos. I knew how much Old Puff meant to you when we were little and this post shows that he still means just as much...maybe even more.
ReplyDeleteThis post got a few laughs out of me. You expressed yourself very casually which I really loved because it adds a certain tone and style to your writing. It is adorable how you took him everywhere (even to church) and hilarious that you used his nose as a pacifier. I really enjoyed reading this and finding out just how much Old Puff means to you.
ReplyDeleteI laughed when I read this post. Not only because of the humor, but because I remember Old Puff. I too have a stuffed animal that is ragged and worn. His name is Purple Teddy. I liked how you stated all the places that he had been and even in the end stated places that he will go. I'm glad the Old Puff always made his way back to you. I know that I would be devastated if I lost Purple Teddy. I really enjoyed reading this post and I hope the Old Puff will last to be even older.
ReplyDeleteI love in the end when you mention that Old Puff will be going to ABAC with you...Farmer Mary! He was a since of comfort for you and it is awesome that he will continue to stay with you through college. And I love the fact that you are not afraid to say that you love Old Puff and would be very sad without him. It also made me laugh when you said you could "brave the night" without him you just "choose not to"!
ReplyDelete