I enjoyed Bridget’s Virtual Advent Christmas story and I thought, well… I have a sort of similar story to share. And although I do not remember any of this story, I have heard it told and re-told and re-told! Plus..I have the proof that it is true!
I have a cousin, Bill, who is 6 months younger than me. I had looked for a photo of the two of us together, but alas, I could not find one. Instead I found a photo of me when I was about 2-ish (I think!) That is the face of determination, Gentle Readers!
That haircut?? Courtesy of my dear Nana!
This story takes place all the way back in 1961… our (mine and Bill’s) first Christmas. I was almost 1 and Bill was just 6 months old. My mom had gotten him a small teddy bear for Christmas, but she made the fatal error in letting me see the gift before it was wrapped. As the story goes, I was obsessed with the wee bear. I asked about the bear lots…and lots…and lots! Out of sight did not mean out of my mind! So it should have come to no surprise that just as we were all getting ready to sit down to eat, I walked in with the little bear. (Personally, I think the quiet should have been a huge clanging warning bell, amirite?) however, as the story goes, I found the wrapped box under the tree and helped myself.
Then the battle began… my mother wanted me to give it to Bill and I was having none of it. They say there were all kinds of tears and yelling (me crying, my parents yelling…) until my nana weighed in. And in her immortal words, as she loved to retell it… “it’s your own damned fault,” she told my mother. My nana in her wisdom ended the fracas, I had the bear… Bill had the box (?? I honestly don’t know if poor Bill got anything from us that year!) and dinner started with no more arguing! Ha!
That bear though… he was the dearest little friend, and as you can see… he was very well loved. Today, he sits in my living room, a humorous reminder my first Christmas…
It just can’t be December without the Virtual Advent Tour!
I want to thank Sprite for hosting Virtual Advent… I love participating and even more; I love reading all of the posts!
What a great story! Your bear reminds me a lot of my mother’s teddy bear, who is a similar state after being well loved. I don’t think she stole hers, though!
Great story Kat! And your beloved bear looks like the Velveteen Rabbit!
I knew as soon as I saw the photo of that well-loved bear that I was going to love the story! I don’t think you at one were quite ready to learn a lesson about giving, and I don’t think six-month-old Bill even knew the difference. Thank goodness your Nana was so wise!
What a sweet story! Your dear bear looks well loved! Hope you have a good week.D
A great story, and I’m sure Bill enjoyed the box a lot more than he would the bear at 6 months. Love that you still have the bear too.
I still have “Beary”, the bear I received when I was about 2 years old. He has lost his ears and a lot of his fur and stuffing, too (well he is 68 years old!) He still is dear to me, though, and I could never throw him away.
What a great story! I think I’d find myself channeling your nana…
Such a wonderful Christmas story, Kat! I’m so glad you still have the little, VERY loved bear. (And . . . your Nana was so right!)
didn’t we all have a hair cut like that from a gram? Mine was similar but the back is longer. I love the teddy bear story!
I have a bit of a bear story myself, but actually I think I stole it from my sister, at least that is what she said. I don’t believe her, I think it was mine all along. Stay safe.
What an wonderful story, so glad you still have the bear!
Oh, I love this story! And I love your nana!
Perfection!
Too bad for Bill. But then again, he was just six months old, so I doubt he really cared that much at the time. 😉
I had that same haircut, by the way, for about the first 6 years of my life …
It was something that made us all laugh for years to come, and my cousin gave me lots of grief about it over the years. 🙂
Also… I too, sported that same haircut for a good number of years (way longer than I wanted lol)
Sweet story. Good for Nana!
LOL! Kat, that is a great story! And your Nana was definitely right. There’s no reasoning with a kid that age.
Thanks for taking part in the tour again this year!
Your Nana was tip top! (I kept thinking who is trying to reason with a 1 year old? 🙂 )
Thank goodness for a wise Nana. The first thing I thought of when I saw that bear was that he is a version of the Velveteen Rabbit. I’m glad you still have him and the story. I too had a similar haircut. After that cut, it was on to home permanents for my sister and I. Gram and Mom doubled up to get us both in those curlers with hair ends in paper and then tipped our heads over the sink to pour on the stinkiest stuff ever.