7/15/08

Meet my great friend of 42 years

This is Boosin, one my first teddy bears given to me by my grandparents at 6 months old and faithfully by my side ever since.
My mum tells me that when I was about 2 years old, we travelled to see my aunt in the south who was very ill in hospital. She has never forgotten the image of me walking down the train station platform clutching Boosin, who was bigger than me and the people around chuckling and grinning when they saw me.

Boosin has spent his whole life on my bed and has never been consigned to a closet like other teddies I have owned. In fact he is the only soft toy I have retained from my childhood and he is now one of my most treasured possessions.

I have slept snuggled up to him many nights, shed tears on him and often just looking at him will raise a smile. When I moved here he was blind, as his felt eyes had long since fallen off, as had his nose! He also had a hole above one ear and another unfortunately sited one in his crotch, from which he was losing stuffing.

So I set about some well-earned cosmetic surgery and restored his sight and stitched up the holes. He is worn a little thin in areas but is really in remarkable condition considering his great age in teddy bear years. That is his original tongue poking out!

I have no doubt Boosin will make it through lifes long journey with me and will one day accompany me to a better place, still clutched in my loving arms. Somewhere my mum has a picture of me face down on him, sound asleep on my bed as a toddler, with lace frilly knicker clad bottom stuck in the air - we will try to find it for a future posting!

Little did my grandparents know on the day they presented him to me, that Boosin would be my erstwhile friend through all of lifes trials, tribulations and joys. He has also become a member of our family with the passing of time and a bit of an icon.

13 comments:

Tess Kincaid said...

He is too sweet and obviously cherished. I need to dig my teddy out...he's packed away in a box somewhere!

Teresa said...

This is the most endearing post I have ever read. Boosin is a very personal part of your life, thanks for sharing him. He looks like just the teddy for the job of life time companion. I truly hope he does not see many more tears as I hope your life continues to get better and better.

Janet said...

What a great post! He's obviously a cherished bear...and friend.

And I'm delighted to see that "y'all" are having such a great "visit" with each other - as my Okie relatives would say!

Janet

Janet said...

Your Ted looks in a lot better shape than mine. I've had my Ted since birth, and we are both looking equally decrepit.

Its Just Me - Daring to Dream said...

How sweet!

Roland Hulme said...

Wow! I still have my 28 year old bear too. He's seen better days, but I love him (and he edits my blog - he's Editorial Bear, a.k.a. Dinsey.)

Thanks for your comment on my blog. Did you like the pram? It was $10 in a yard sale. We may be dazed and confused new parents, but at least we're thrifty.

Jo, a retired teacher said...

Ran into your blog through Musings and enjoyed reading your posts. I will check back again.

I did a similar blog on the things one should take better care of when they are young and skin was certainly one of them. The other two were teeth and hearing, both of which can be damaged carelessly in youth and missed profoundly in "maturity."

Take good care of your teddy; he seems very precious.

Daryl said...

Oh Sarah, he's adorable.

I have a stuffed doll who was given to me when I born ... like your 'baby' she's been cuddled and cried upon and even, I was told, puked on more than once .. my mom crocheted patched for her body and her little curl of hair was cut by me at some point when I thought I might want to be a hairdresser... I did a post on her w/a photo but I cant seem to find it ...

Rosie is her name (I named our little cat after her) and she rests on a shelf alongside our bed.

:-Daryl

Daryl said...

http://onthem104.blogspot.com/2008/02/inspired.html

I found it ... if you have a chance to look ...

Pam said...

OMG. I love this bear. Or is he a puppy. Anyway, I have to tell you it brings back sore memories for me! I had a much loved bear and can remember even now, all these years later, the day that mom made me throw him out. I'm choked up thinking about it! Am sooo glad you have your snuggly bear. Much love in that guy, I can tell!

Mmm said...

"boosin" --great name, great blog.

Unknown said...

Thank you everyone for your lovely comments on Boosin, thanks Daryl for the lovely link and OMG Pam - you're right - he's a Doggy not a Teddy!! LOL

Julie said...

That made me all teary eyed! I want a little friend like that...unfortunately, or maybe fortunately I never got attached to anything like that when I was little. I sometimes am secretly jealous of my 25 and 30 year old friends who still have their security item and I have nothing....