My teddy bear was named love you bear. He was the last present my parents got me for valentines day before they got divorced. He was dressed like a little devil with red horns on either ear, a red cape, and a little red heart he was holding with both hands that said: “love you”. I have so many memories and stories buried in the heart of my bear. I’ve lived through so many stages of my life with my bear by my side.
Having a teddy bear or another comfort object can be instrumental to a child’s ability to cope with things going on in their lives. Often, a comfort object will be tied to a sense of safety or a time in their life that brings them comfort (before anything ever went wrong and it always felt safe.) For me, I got my teddy bear back in a time when I had so many good childhood memories (honestly some of my only good childhood memories). I have memories of Christmas scavenger hunts, easter mornings, family game nights, and vacations. Being able to relate hugging or laying with my teddy bear to those feelings of family and safety offered a sense of relief from reality even when I didn’t understand what that meant.
That beat-up little bear may not seem like much, and maybe he wasn’t really, but the feeling I got when I held him after a long day or even a good day was all I needed as a kid. Honestly, I can’t remember what it felt like when things were bad as a kid except for a few short flashes of memories holding my bear to fall asleep. I do, however, have lots of memories of my bear as I grew older. Specifically, throughout the worst relationship of my life. I was in a physically and emotionally abusive relationship and it was hard to deal with, but every once in a while I got to lay down and go to sleep with my bear in my arms. I was living away from home and didn’t have any connection to my family or anything else I knew my whole life, but I had my bear. Almost all of the time during that relationship, especially while I was living away from home I felt as though I had lost myself, but I would hug my bear and for just a second I was brought back. I got quick memories and flashes of emotions, safety, and comfort that I didn’t have anywhere else. From the outside, that bear who was missing a horn and had a torn-up cape didn’t mean much, but to me; that bear saved my life.
I woke up at the unnatural hour of 7am! I was in Japan! After getting mybearings a bit I went downstairs for breakfast. After stugling to navigate with the sweet help of the managers wife (who speaks little english) I was able to get my japanese style breakfast.
It consited of rice, miso soup, fried greens with tiny white fish on them, a soup with some fibers plant (it was like a mix betewwn chicken and a potato, strange but delicous), and apple juice.
Later I met up with the 3 other exchange students staying in my dorm (all girls) and we walked the 20 minutes to my new school. We met up with th 2 boys who are aslo exchange students and got to meet the staff in the exchange program office. Then we went and spent hours filling out paperwork so we could all stay in Japan.
We had a nice lunch break were we walked to the mall food court across the steet. I was greeted by an american staple Burger King. I had ramen instead. (no picture sadly)
After luch we took the bus to city hall were a bunch of govement offices are. After sitting in a more efficantly run government office for hours ( still a shorter visit than the DMV) we got most of our stuff registerd.
We then headed to the post office, witch is part of the same building just a diffrent area and I saw this poster IN A GOVERNMENY BUILDING!
I was definatly in Japan. Shout out to my friend who I watch this with! Miss you
After the post office we split up again and the girls took the train home. Dinner that night was realy good.
Thinly cut meat over fried cabbage and other veggies, rice, miso soup, 2 kinds of mushrooms, orange slices, and water. It was delicious. So for those of you who joked about me getting scurvy, it tuns out all I need was Japanese cuisine to enjoy veggies.
Happy 10th Birthday to my first borns. A decade of being your father has brought me unspeakable joy, happiness…and the occasional headache. You frequently make me proud and not a day has gone by that I haven’t thanked God for the precious gifts you are to me and your mom. #McDijos #Buddies4Life #MyBears (at Rapid City, South Dakota) https://www.instagram.com/p/CSU1ZNxlik09D9nq-SizcCo7cpanaQ8Jc-VzfE0/?utm_medium=tumblr
Today is the day! It's time to shock the world! Lets get that DUB! - - - - #BearDown!! #dabear #chicagobears #mybears (en Ciudad de Mexico CDMX) https://www.instagram.com/p/CJl4dQWAd91wgIeOt48P-kttmpF15G8Hcl1F440/?igshid=1k79yo9tn6y3n
I’m sure he know his hands full with both of us... But my heart’s full with both of them 😍 #NationalSonDay #MyFirstBorn #MyGuy #FirstUnconditionalLove #HeComingToo #MrATx #MyAustin #MySon #BigDude #Teenagers #MyFunnyGuy #MyBear 💖 (at Houston, Texas) https://www.instagram.com/p/CFtK0-eAfAq/?igshid=q7o8lc1yjm48
Ready! Waiting for the Packers! Cmon! Let’s do this! Is the moment!! Let’s make cheese the Lambeau Field! GRRRRRRR!!! - - - - - #Beardown #chicagobears #bearfan #mybears #gobears #thebears #monstersofthemidway #bears #SNF #BEARSvsPACKERS (en Lambeau Field) https://www.instagram.com/p/CIMgF2CgTG4q7A6-Xdy2fyvJVaThE-i51yj8o80/?igshid=9ayvlocepzo8