Teddy Bears.  Did you have one growing up?  I honestly do not remember having one.  Hubby does.  As I was growing up, there were always cats that slept with me.  Guess I might not have needed one.

Someone gave my Mom an older teddy.  One of his ears is slightly loose and the string making his nose has come undone and is hanging a bit.  Still he sat on the hearth at her house from the time my Dad died 13 years ago until she died last year.  I brought it home and he now resides in an antique rocking chair in the living room.  When I look at him, I think of my Mom.  I don't really think she ever cared about it one way or another.  But I fell in love with him the first time I saw him.

Here is my Patches cat enjoying a cat nap (slightly disturbed by the camera and I) with Teddy:

The pillow is a Christmas gift from my cousin in Oregon.  It says "love you to the moon and back".  A phrase I sometimes use to end an email.  We are more like siblings than cousins.

I remember as a child hearing a song "Teddy Bear's picnic" on the radio. It opened a children's program if my memory is right. Can't remember if it was just on Saturday or what; but I think of that song a lot.  It is one of oldest memories I have.  I found a recording by Anne Murray on YouTube. Here is a link http:
//youtu.be/uxFIGWm9M6w.  Perhaps you remember it.

There's a really cute rhyme about a teddy bear also.

Grin and Bear It

(for two year old)
When I was just a wee little bear,
My owner dragged me everywhere,
Filled me up with cold mud pie,
Bit my nose and lost my tie,
Left me outside in the rain,
Spilled her juice and left this stain.
But I didn’t whine or scold,
Cuz she was only two years old!
And what’s a faithful bear to do
When his little girl is only two?
~ Author Unknown ~

I've always wanted a vintage steiff bear but have never had money to buy one.  One like this cutie is cuddling:
 

 

Follow up to previous blog.

Daughter is doing okay.  She did take too many medicines but she also had pneumonia and was running such a high fever she was delirious.  She may have taken too many pain pills without realizing it.  She does have a problem but this time it was not done on purpose.  Thank God for getting her through this.  She will be in hospital for a few more days while she recuperates from all of it.

Today I'm writing a personal post.  And I hope you'll forgive me.

50 years ago this April I gave birth to a 9lb 14oz baby girl.  She was beautiful.  I was lucky enough to be a stay at home Mom until she started school.  We did everything together.

I went to work so hubby could get finish his degree at UofF and get a better job than electrician's apprentice.  So her grandmother who lived next door took care of her.  When she was seven, I had to make the decision to let her become a latch key kid.  Her grandmother had told her there was no Santa Claus and she was devastated.  School was only two blocks away and there were neighbors who watched out for her. 

During those years she was given chores.  She could clean, wash clothes, and cook supper with the best of them.  We managed to keep our heads above water and hubby finally finished and went to work teaching school.  It took a couple of more years to get in a better financial situation.  By that time she was a teenager, I liked my job, and decided to keep working.

I thought I had done a pretty good job; the best I knew how.  I certainly had no guidance from my own mother.  I had loved her unconditionally, as I still do, and felt she was going to do good things.

That girl now a woman of 50, mother of three, is laying in ICU in a hospital in Alabama.  She overdosed on prescription drugs.  She is in stable condition.  I have not been able to talk to her since she has had a breathing tube and has been asleep since it happened.  One of my grandsons who lives there has born the brunt of the worry and taking care of his younger sister while holding down a job.  He's one of the best kids around.  But it is hard for him.

That's my story today.  I feel better writing about it.  I am hurt but not beating myself up over it.  This was her choice.  She has problems and I am praying this will wake her up and she will get help.  Thanks for reading.  I'm sorry it is such a sad post.

My mother-in-law once told me that since she was old, she could say anything she wanted.  My mother thought the same way.  Unfortunately, I have a very good friend who also thinks the same way.

I don't think any of the above waited for old age however.  They always said what they thought their whole lives.

They never considered how what they said hurt other people (or didn't care).  I know I was on the receiving end of a lot of cruel words.  It didn't make me a better person; but it sure made me realize I didn't want to be like them.

I'm for standing up for yourself and saying what needs to be said in certain circumstances.  I also believe you should take a deep breath before.  It helps to take the time to think if what you are about to say will be hurtful or useful.  Sometimes in the interest of helping someone what we need to say may be cruel.  But there are ways to do that to make it less hurting.  I haven't always been good at that.

Old age doesn't give us the right to hurt.  Old age doesn't really give us the right to do anything except cherish every day.  Older people have years of experience to give to other people.  It should be done in a way that will gain the respect of the other person.

Truth in this quote.  I went a lot of years being old before my actual age was considered old.  I felt I was old, overweight, a drudge so to speak.  So I forgot how to be childish.

Now that I am actually "old" in age (70), I no longer feel old.  I shocked myself when I realized that in March I would turn 70 and in April my daughter would turn 50.  Not possible.

While the chemo and illness has made my body feel and look older, I don't feel "old" spiritually.  I still do crazy things.  Like painting which is really just a higher form of coloring I did as a child.  Getting tickled over cartoons and Disney movies (especially the old ones).  Daydreaming of things I will never see or experience.  Daydreams are important to a child and should be continued and cherished your entire life. I still love to walk in the rain or splash in puddles.  I've gone back and reread all the children's books I loved--like "Alice in Wonderland" and "The Wizard of Oz".  Even read all the Harry Potter books.  Don't forget to laugh a lot.  Giggle even.

Try not to be an OLD stick-in-the-mud adult all the time.  There's
time for that.