ONE KIND WORD...

 

"One kind word can warm three winter months."

~Japanese Proverb~

You may remember this little guy as I have shared him before in my years of blogging, but not for a while.  

I have had him since I was a year old.  My parents gave him to me on my first birthday.  I named him simply, "Teddy".  He is worse for wear but I still love him dearly, a connection to my special loved ones.  He is carefully stored in a box now, dusted off and cleaned every so often.  

I took Teddy everywhere and as I got older when my parents thought that I was ready to let him go (I certainly didn't tell them that), they coaxed me into giving him to the child of a visiting friend.  I was about eight or nine and I was not happy.  

Before that visit was over I quietly went to said child (while adults were elsewhere no doubt) “Can I have my Teddy back?” and quietly bribed him with one of Mum's chocolate bars.  (I seem to remember my Dad giving me a talking to about that chocolate bar a few days later.  I gave mine up for two weeks to pay Mum back and no pocket money, tried to be extra good, did extra chores, and tried my best to keep my bedroom tidy.  But I looked at Teddy and was happy.)  

I was so thankful said child preferred the chocolate bar.  I would have given ten chocolate bars if one didn't work.  IOU if I had to, no problem.  I was determined and when Teddy reappeared a few days later from out of my special hide-away place, my parents never said a word.  My chat with Dad came later.  

Teddy was my constant companion and would go with me everywhere.  When I was sad or mad, off we would go to my hide-away place upstairs.  I climbed up to the second shelf, which was a big, wooden, slatted rack, where all the linens and towels were kept over the hot water tank.  It seemed high to me, but I was a climber and it was my Mount Everest.  I would hear Mum’s voice saying loudly.  “Hmmm....I wonder where Denise is?”   She had always been in the know about my special hide-away place.  

While I think about it I should tell you about the window cleaner's ladder. What an adventure that was, climbing up to the second floor at three years' old, with several more grey hairs for my Mum, and the window cleaner she told me.  "You were always a climber."  She and the window cleaner would probably have had a strong cup of tea afterwards.  I was a climber, did I mention that already?  My Mum told me that story for years and years.  "You were always a climber" as she shook her head slowly from side to side and smiled.  "You gave me many a grey hair when you were little.  The window cleaner and I had to have an extra strong cup of tea with lots of sugar after that escapade."  Sorry Mum! 

Anyhow, I digress, in my hide-away place I would tell Teddy all my joys and woes.

He has been with me for a lifetime.  At this age I don't really care if people think I am too old for Teddy, or his many companions I have collected over the years.  The circle of life is coming around, and I find other ways to be kind.

A very cute photo that seemed to fit the theme.  I found it at pixabay.com.  When I found this photo it reminded me of my own dear Teddy, and I went on a search for the old photo above.  Hence the trip down memory lane.  

Thanks for stopping by friends, and have a great weekend.