A Very Special Old Teddy Bear

For many of us who collect teddy bears, especially ‘old’ teddy bears, during our lifetime of collecting, we will all probably acquire that one very special teddy bear, the teddy bear of our dreams, the one that makes your heart miss a beat every time you look at him.  Perhaps it’s simply the way he looks at you but often it goes so much deeper than that.  Sometimes, your very special old teddy bear is your childhood bear, the old teddy bear that grew up with you, the old bear that shared your childhood, your adventures, your tantrums and all of your hopes and dreams.  Do you remember your old teddy bear ?

Sooty –

Sooty is an old Pedigree Teddy Bear, born the same time as his owner in 1959.  Sooty was given to his owner on the day that she was born.  Sooty was given to his owner by her Father, who was so proud of his first born, a baby girl.  Sooty and his owner grew up together, sharing summer holidays by the seaside, accompanying each other to friends birthday parties, where together they would share all the fun of the party games, not forgetting the birthday cake and party food.  Sooty’s owner loved strawberry trifle (and she still does!!).

Christmas mornings were always a very special time for them both, then there was the trauma of his owner’s first day at school but she had company, as Sooty went with her on that very first morning, just to give her the support of a teddy bear.

It wasn’t always easy for Sooty though, as his owner was a serial ‘burier’.  She buried everything from her pet dog ‘Pepe’ to poor old Sooty bear.  She buried most things, including Sooty on a regular basis in both soil and sand.  Poor old Sooty would be buried up to his shoulders, she would then stand back and adimre her burying skills and then, she would tap him on the head with her little spade.  So it will therefore come as no surprise at all to you, to tell you that Sooty soon lost his beautiful white fur and took on a more greyish colour.

Sooty never left her ever, if she needed him, well, he would be there.  He accompanied her on school day trips to places like the Zoo (where he enjoyed seeing the big bears), they also visited lots of castles in England and Wales, and he grew to enjoy history as much as she did.  Their favourite places to visit though was always the seaside, even though he knew he would get buried AGAIN…

Not all the growing up years were good for Sooty’s owner, but Sooty remained as close as ever.  The day his owner’s beloved poodle Pepe died, was to be one of the worst days of her life, even a loving old bear like Sooty could not console her.  That day was one day when Sooty would have preferred to be buried in sand than to almost drown as he did in her tears – but he remained with her.

She learnt to play piano and guitar, he stayed, when she started to learn the violin, he never faltered, despite everyone else practically running to cover their ears.

Time went on and Sooty’s owner became wrapped up in music, which sometimes made him feel just that little bit lonely.  She tried many instruments and would ask Sooty’s honest opinion of her playing.  Now being a teddy bear this was difficult, as he must be honest with her, but he also wanted to support her – thank goodness being a teddy bear he could not speak, instead he just smiled.

When she worked in the music business and started to write her own songs, she would once again try them out on Sooty first – he was so proud of her.  He also marvelled at the interesting people they both met during their years in this business.  Sooty was the perfect friend.  Everyone who met him just adored him.  It was a good life for a teddy bear now AND she had stopped burying him.

Along with all the magical times, Sooty’s owner has also had her fair share of bad times, but like a trooper he still stood by her.  Many times she summoned up strength, just by talking to him.  His little heart and soul was always into looking after her.  They had become kind of soul mates.

Due to his many  and varied exploits, poor old Sooty (who is now over fifty years old) has become very threadbare and, as his owner could not stand being separated from him while he goes to a teddy bear hospital for repair, she instead made him some warm clothes, which he thinks are very ‘cool’  She knitted him a lovely warm blue sweater and put some of his favourite pin badges on it – he even has one with her name on it from years gone by.  She also made him a pair of jeans from an old pair of her favourite Levis.

It is now such a long time since Sooty became a part of her life.  He still looks after her, but he spends most of his days resting now – he sits on her bed (now with many other special teddy bears), just watching the world go by and thinking of all the great times they shared together.  He loves her and she still loves him – LOTS AND LOTS.

When I need to talk, I talk to you,

When I need to cry, I cry with you

And when my world turns upside down, for better or worse

I run to you,

Because you have always been there for me,

As sure as night follows day,

No matter what I tell you I know you always care

What better friend could I ask for then

than you my teddy bear