My
daughter opened it with excited anticipation – her hands were quickly tearing
into the box. All she knew was that it contained something from her childhood
that would make her happy. Inside, wrapped in tissue, was a large teddy bear
dressed in green shorts and a farmer’s hat.
Casey,
she squealed in recognition. Casey the Bear was her toy at Grandma’s farm house
when she was three years old. She smelled the familiar scent of the farm on the
bear that had been stored in the attic for almost thirty years.
Grandpa
passed away recently and Dad had been sorting through his possessions. He found
Casey the Bear and memories flooded back.
Grandma
Jean bought Casey for two-year-old Mimi long time ago. Jean passed away late the
following year and Casey was forgotten. Mimi visited the farm sporadically as a
teen. A picture with my curly haired,
blue-eyed toddler holding Casey in her arms was attached. Mimi, a miniature
Snow-White beauty, was so much smaller than the bear that Casey appeared to
occupy the entire photo.
Dad
mailed Casey with a lovely note and more pictures from her rare visits to the
farm. Mimi wiped away a tear of sadness
and joy, regret and closure, as she read the letter.
“Hi,
Mimi!
Do
you remember me, I’m Casey. Grandma Jean gave me to you when you were a little
girl. I brought a picture along just in case you don’t remember.
I’ve
been in a toy box for years. I am so glad to be out. A man, who said he was
your father, rescued me. It has been so lonely in that box all these years and
I have missed you.
No
other little girls ever came to play with me. Where did you go? You were there
one day then you never came back. Are you the same as in the picture? Will I
recognize you?
Have
you missed me, Mimi?
I
am a little dusty and worn, but I am still just like I was all those years ago.
I
was so glad when your father said he was going to make sure we were together
again. I can hardly wait!
I
will give you a BIG HUG when I see you.
Love,Casey”
Mimi
closed her sparkling eyes briefly and hugged the teddy bear so tightly as if to
recapture a moment of that precious time, long forgotten but missed, the
carefree days of innocence and play.
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