So, you know how when you have a baby and they latch on to something as their lovie you should get two of them, right? And you know that my oldest daughter received a red bear from her Grammie when she was 13 months old, right? And you know that Grammie got it on clearance at JC Penney in early 2004 (right after Christmas) for something like $2.00, right? And Grammie didn't think to buy two - but who knew we'd need two of them?! Elizabeth Jane has never been without BehBear (nee Red Baron) since she got him.
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| Elizabeth & BehBear (and Purple Blankie) in her little fold-out chair in the kids' room at Boop & Paw's house. March 2004 |
Well, she took him to Girl Scout camp earlier this summer...see him laying on the bed back there?
He did not make it home. We still don't know what happened to him. He did not show up in the camp lost-and-found. He did not go home with any of her tent-mates. The only thing we can guess is that he rolled out of the tent during the night while she was sleeping and he got carted off by a raccoon or something. She was heart-broken. And, quite frankly, so was I. Every time she had a new sibling, BehBear went to Boop's house with her while Mommy was at the hospital. When she had some dental work at the age of four that required general anesthesia, they let her keep BehBear with her when she went to the OR so she wouldn't be afraid. When her very best friend moved to Florida last summer, she spent many afternoons curled on her bed with BehBear - talking to him about how much she missed BFF. BehBear was an extension of her. I remember how I could tell she was tired because she would start biting his nose. I remember the first time he had a hole in the seam and the drama that erupted because he needed "surgery." Last summer, she and Grammie actually added stuffing to him because he was so flimsy.
When we came home from camp, I spent several hours on eBay trying to find one of these bears - hoping against hope that someone, somewhere would be an avid bear collector and have one for sale. At that point, I would've paid a significant sum of money to get one. And I still hope that someone from Girl Scout Camp will find him and they'll remember that Elizabeth is looking for him and will get him home to us. My heart still breaks that he is gone. I loved him as much as she did, I think.
2 comments:
Oh Gina!! That is so heartbreaking!!! I can't imagine if my kids were to lose their special things. Joanna still has "buh" - a small blanket that was made for her when she was little. It's now no more than a small bit of fabric that is barely woven together. She just gave up sucking her thumb this spring but "buh" is still important.
I will be praying that BehBear is able to find his way back home!! :(
Ann
Poor Elizabeth and poor Mommy :( We bought multiple "loveys" when Hope was a baby and she had a special "blank" that she slept with until.....well, I won't say how old she was. They are now tucked away in a draw in her dresser... they can.not. go in a box in the attic!! She did take one special item with her to CA, not sure she sleeps with it but I wouldn't be surprised. I will pray that either the original BehBear comes home or that you will be able to find a new one.
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