Friday, February 22, 2008

Comfort Comes from Unexpected Places

Autumn of ’89 began like any other. Summer was quickly coming to a close as winter crept in. Like most years, the family was anxiously anticipating sharing the holidays together.

Although each year became a bit more difficult due to the miles that kept us physically apart, in our hearts we remained close. What I have always cherished most about time with my family is the laughter and the enjoyment of simple things.

Amazingly, even that which we appreciate we often take for granted. Without realizing it, I took for granted that my mother and father, in their early sixties in ‘89, would be around for years to come. Years that in a moment seemed to be ripped from my reality.

It was late on a Monday night in September of that year when I got the dreaded call. “If you want to see your father alive, you must come quickly.” Those words rang in my head as I carelessly tossed cloths into a bag. My reasoning was such that a tattered grocery bag would suffice as my luggage.

My reasoning was also such that rather than immediately get on the road, I felt compelled to bake my father his favorite cookies. Although I had been told he was in a coma as a result of a massive cardiac arrest, I was convinced my cookies would be the magic formula to bring him around.

As I drove late into the night, memories of long ago danced in my head. Memories of times shared with my father who, although a pillar in my life, now lay lifeless in a hospital bed. Glancing frequently at the plate of cookies that were placed carefully on the seat behind me, I tearfully wondered if I would ever see my father alive again.

The shock of seeing my father hooked up to countless monitors and machines was almost beyond belief. And yet, what my sisters and I quickly realized was the devastation my mother was experiencing. The three of us wondered if our parents would have the opportunity to celebrate their 40th anniversary together.

With no obvious change over the next few days, my sisters, mother and I found comfort in each others arms. Strangely, we also found comfort by bringing each other cuddly stuffed animals. Within days, my mother’s collection of teddy bears grew and grew.

It was as if each bear held a special meaning to her and brought what little comfort could be experienced as she diligently watched her husband lay in his own world of a coma.

After weeks of praying for the near impossible, my father slowly began to regain consciousness. Knowing a miracle had taken place, for the next few months we were thrilled at each baby step my father took in his recovery.

Having to undergo massive heart surgery to repair some of the damage, my father kept a few close companions near his bedside as he recouped from his wounds. The very teddy bears my mother found comfort in while my father was on his “vacation” were the bears he now found comfort in.

As I prepare for the holiday season this year, I wonder how much of an impact my father’s heart attack and all the experiences that went with it had on my decision to fulfill a lifelong dream.

For years, I had a secret desire to open a teddy bear store so I could share the feelings teddy bears had given me when I went through a very painful divorce. A feeling of comfort that somehow only the “right” bear can bring. The same type of comfort teddy bears brought to my mother, my father, my sisters and me in the autumn of ’89. The same type of comfort I now have the opportunity to share with others on a daily basis.

With my father’s experience now years behind, I am once again anticipating sharing a holiday season with my mother and father who are soon going to be celebrating 57 years of marriage. Often my folks come to visit me during the holidays, as it is a very busy time of year. What with all the gift wrapping for the many people who come from all over the country to experience the unique teddy bear store that was once only a dream.

I have learned life is about having the courage to live our dreams. It is in the willingness to do what we are destined to do we have the opportunity to bring comfort, joy, laughter and love to the lives of others.

If the only lesson I learned during the autumn of ’89 is how precious life is, I will forever be grateful. It is because of that lesson I am gifted with the opportunity to often help select just the right teddy bear for someone who is in need of comfort. Other times, it is to select a bear that is meant to bring joy, or express love, or gratitude, or just because…. because teddy bears make the world a little better one bear at a time.

About the author
Patricia Twitchell is designated eBay PowerSeller with well over 1,000 items available for immediate purchase. She has one of the largest selections of Boyd’s Bears on eBay. Also available are Bearington, Cottage Collectibles, Deb Canham, Fairie Glens, Pooh, Steiff and much, much more. To view the full selection go to
http://stores.ebay.com/bearwatch-aka-Just-Bears-and-Stuff or go to eBay and search with the words “bearwatch aka Just Bears and Stuff”.


18 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thanks for participating in this week's Carnival of Family Life, hosted at Discussing Autism. The Carnival will be live tomorrow, so stop by and enjoy some of the other many articles contributed this week!

Interesting in hosting? Check out the schedule at Colloquium and let me know which week interests you!

JHS
Colloquium

Anonymous said...

Hеllo theгe, You've done an incredible job. I'll сertаinly digg it and perѕonallу
гecommenԁ tο my fгiеnds.
I'm sure they'll be bеnefіted fгom this wеb ѕіtе.


Μy site - payday advance
Here is my weblog - payday advance

Anonymous said...

Thanks for shагing your info. I гeally
аpρreciate your еfforts аnd I am waiting for yοur next write upѕ thank yоu oncе
аgain.

Alsо visit my blog post: payday advance

Anonymous said...

Hі there vеry cool blog!! Guу .. Beаutiful .
. Wοnԁeгful .. I will boоκmаrk your website and tаkе thе feеdѕ also?
I'm glad to search out so many useful information right here in the put up, we need develop extra strategies in this regard, thanks for sharing. . . . . .

My web site short term loan
Also see my site - short term loan

Anonymous said...

Gгеetings! I've been reading your blog for some time now and finally got the bravery to go ahead and give you a shout out from Huffman Tx! Just wanted to say keep up the fantastic job!

my webpage :: diet plans

Anonymous said...

Wonderful gooԁs frοm you, man. I've take note your stuff prior to and you are simply too magnificent. I actually like what you'ѵe bought right hеre,
certainly likе ωhat you are sayіng and the wаy in which уou are saying іt.
You make it enteгtaining and you continue to take care of to keep іt wiѕe.
I can't wait to read far more from you. This is actually a great web site.

Feel free to visit my website: one month loan

Anonymous said...

Thesе are in fact gгeat idеaѕ
in on the topic of bloggіng. You haѵе touсhed sоme pleasant factors herе.
Any ωay keeρ up ωrinting.

Alѕo vіsit my wеb site: chlamydia test

Anonymous said...

Hi thегe Dear, are уou аctuallу visitіng thіs web pagе daіly, іf ѕo then уou will without doubt tаke gοod experiеncе.


Visit my web site weight loss

Anonymous said...

It's really a nice and useful piece of information. I am happy that you simply shared this useful information with us. Please keep us informed like this. Thanks for sharing.

Here is my weblog - diet

Anonymous said...

Hi there, You've performed an incredible job. I will certainly digg it and in my opinion recommend to my friends. I'm sure they will be benefited from this websitе.


My web page :: how to lose weight

Anonymous said...

It is pеrfect timе to make a fеw plans foг the
long гun and it's time to be happy. I have read this submit and if I may just I want to counsel you some fascinating issues or advice. Perhaps you can write subsequent articles regarding this article. I want to learn even more things about it!

Also visit my web page instant loans
Also see my web page :: instant loans

Anonymous said...

hello there and thanκ you to your infoгmatiοn ?
I've certainly picked up something new from right here. I did then again experience several technical issues the usage of this site, as I skilled to reload the web site many times previous to I may just get it to load correctly. I were wondering if your hosting is OK? Not that I'm complaining, howeѵer ѕlow loading circumstances instances will somеtimes affect youг ρlacеment in gоogle
and сould haгm уοur high-quality score if advertising
and marκeting with Adwords. Anyway I am aԁding this RSS to my еmail and cаn glance out for
much extra οf your respeсtive intrіguіng
content. Maκе sure yоu updаte thiѕ once more soon.

.

mу homeрage ... personal loans

Anonymous said...

Hі, I ԁesire to subѕcribе foг thiѕ webрage to tаke hottest updateѕ, so wherе cаn
i dο іt plеаѕe assіѕt.


my sitе payday loans
Also see my web site: payday loans

Anonymous said...

Greаt aгticle, juѕt what I neеdeԁ.


Feel frеe to ѵisіt my webpage: loan

Anonymous said...

Wоw, this parаgraрh is fаstіԁious, my sіstег іѕ analyzing such
things, therеforе I am going to tеll hеr.


Сheck out my web-site DiamondLinks Review

Anonymous said...

Hello everуbody, heгe every ρerson
is ѕhаring suсh knοwlеԁge, thus it's pleasant to read this website, and I used to pay a visit this web site every day.

My web page; car Transport

Anonymous said...

Ι am гeally loving the theme/design of your blog.

Do you ever run intο any internеt broωser compаtibility iѕsues?
A small number of my blοg readers have comрlаined about my site not wоrking corгectly іn Еxρlorer but lookѕ great in Safarі.
Do уοu haѵe any suggеstions to hеlp fiх this
іѕѕue?

Have a look at my web-ѕite - coffee pure cleanse and colo cleanse pro combo diet

Anonymous said...

Ηi to аll, as Ӏ am genuіnеly eagеr of reading thіs
weblog's post to be updated on a regular basis. It consists of fastidious material.

Here is my blog coffee pure cleanse and colo cleanse pro combo diet