This is Teddy. At almost 41 human years, he wears his obvious bear years well. He has stood sentinel of my life since my arrival in this world, when his pink fur glistened in my baby crib. Of course, teddy bear fur does not adapt well to human saliva, dirt, and traumatic experiences in the washing machine. Despite these setbacks, he survives, with button eyes, a stitched nose, and a hand- knitted sweater.
I keep Teddy with a Polaroid of our early days to remind me of resilience. Teddy still serves his purpose and reminds me that regardless of what the washing machine of life hands me, I can still serve my purpose. Sometimes I just have to repair what may be damaged and remember to be gentle.
