Momma Mia, Mea Culpa

Yeah, Um. I still have nothing to write about that has any real substance.

But rather than say nothing at all, I’ve decided to catch up on one other meme I was recently tagged to do. *Yay*

[Any old or unfinished memes that I never managed to get around to doing, seem to have been lost forever, so please do not take it personally if I did not complete a meme you tagged me with. Remind me?]

I was tagged by DCR from DCRBlogs to “Bring Out My Bear.”

Rules: Participants should post a photo (if available) of their favorite childhood stuffed animal and write about it. If you didn’t have a stuffed animal, you can substitute a doll, a wagon or any other favorite childhood toy.

*Sounds easy enough. Away we go.*

Here is the photo of me and “Plain Bear” at age 13.

[I look very sad because I was being dropped off at a boarding school and this photo was taken while saying “Goodbye” to my mother.]

Plain Bear was with me through some of the toughest years of my life. I am referring to my high school years at The Cascade School. As some of my long time readers know well enough that I  did not attend a conventional high school by any stretch of the imagination. I went to a very strange high school. One that had very different concepts and techniques on how to deliver an education and therapy to the ‘troubled teens’ left on that mountain in California. Some called the school a cult. Some called it pioneering. Whichever way you slice it, this was not a regular high school. This was not a normal private boarding school. I can’t even find the appropriate comparison to describe my high school to you. There was, and is, nothing else on earth like it. [Probably why it was shut down several years ago.] I had three pages written trying to explain that school, but then…I deleted it. If you didn’t go there it is almost impossible to explain, nor is it believable. After I tell someone about that school they usually sit stunned complete with jaw on the floor. However, if you would like to learn more about my high school, feel free to click here.

But, this post isn’t about my high school. It’s about my Teddy Bear.

I had a favorite teddy bear. Her name was Plain Bear.

[Yeah, I know, I’ve never been very creative in the name department.]

Plain Bear got me through those awkward years of high school. Plain Bear helped me get me through every single sleepless night. I even had Plain Bear by my side in the hospital after my ‘Near Death’ experience with a black widow spider. And, I had Plain Bear to cry on after my mother would leave after a visitation.

Plain Bear was the softest, coziest, cuddliest, warmest, most pleasant, comfortable, appealing, inviting, and welcoming teddy bear that ever did come from a factory.

Plain Bear gave me a sense of contentment, reassurance, relief, brought me cheer, and where I found solace. Plain Bear came with a feeling of security right on her label, even though I was three thousand miles away from home.

I still have most of my things from that crazy high school of mine. I still have every letter, every journal, every card, and every story is all right here, under my nose, in my house. Except for Plain Bear.

Sadly, mistakenly, she was lost somewhere along the way.

Maybe I accidentally left her in some parking lot during my ‘Dead Tour’ travels?

I hope whomever did find her, found as much comfort and love in Plain Bear as I did.

So tell me, what was your FAVORITE childhood toy?