I wish I had deep complex thoughts to share with you every day. But, I don't. Sometimes to quote Pooh, "I'm a bear of very little brains."
Just fluff in this noggin of mine; nothing much in terms of depth. Perhaps such was the case for my favorite writer, E.B. White. Maybe on some days, he sat down to his typewriter and all that whispered back was, "Nope. I got nothing."
Hard for me to imagine since I have his books to read. Solid, complete, written. But then I stop and think, yeah but the books don't represent the spaces in between. The spaces when he was just a man, not a writer. When you consider even the most prolific writer, the pages they've produced still can't account for every day of their life...
On my Pooh Days, I still want to visit with you. I look forward to my visits to your pages to learn about you for today. I find I hope you'll still stop by to see me. I still want to let you in on what I'm experiencing, even when I all I have to share are little trivial bits and pieces of my life.
So that will continue today...in lieu of big thoughts which honestly, I just don't have, I'll simply let you in a bit deeper into my life. With that- Everyone, I'd like to introduce you to, Leo; Leo, these are my blog land friends...
Leo is my very first plush toy. His mane is a rabbit pelt which has become brittle and dry. He's stuffed with excelsior, which was the preferred stuffing used for very high-end toys. It's a thread made of wood, so over the years, he's become quite crunchy when you touch him. His head has become wobbly and leans to the side; like mine when I'm feeling sick. To keep him safe, he's now perched on one of my closet shelves, just inside the door so we can visit each day. Spend a precious few minutes with each other. It's okay if he peeks while I undress...
Tucked somewhere in a drawer, is a picture of a tiny baby on her tummy smiling for the camera, and next to her is a very handsome lion fellow. With stiff whiskers, and a tiny pink tongue, and a feathery soft, luxuriant mane that really draws the eye. If I ever locate the photo, I'll share it with you. So you can see Leo in his salad days. When we were first becoming acquainted.
Over time, he's seen a lot of stuffed toys come and go. Moved on to other kids or charitable organizations. Ones that used to occupy space on my bed that seemed very important to me at the time. But, I grew and out-grew them. But, not my lion...not Leo. I've taken him with me through every change and venue. Who can say what is the magic that turns some Thing into a Necessary Part of your being?
Old friends, he and I. And, I often wonder how he sees me these days. Have I changed so very much in his orange eyes, or does he still see me as the sweet youngster who toted him about with her everywhere? When I was young and all things were possible.
I suppose I hope that he simply sees me each day with as much love as I still hold for him all these years later. Love me for being the kind of girl who would keep him so close and safe for all this time. Leo, my oldest friend.
Namaste' Till Next Time,
Holly
Just fluff in this noggin of mine; nothing much in terms of depth. Perhaps such was the case for my favorite writer, E.B. White. Maybe on some days, he sat down to his typewriter and all that whispered back was, "Nope. I got nothing."
Hard for me to imagine since I have his books to read. Solid, complete, written. But then I stop and think, yeah but the books don't represent the spaces in between. The spaces when he was just a man, not a writer. When you consider even the most prolific writer, the pages they've produced still can't account for every day of their life...
On my Pooh Days, I still want to visit with you. I look forward to my visits to your pages to learn about you for today. I find I hope you'll still stop by to see me. I still want to let you in on what I'm experiencing, even when I all I have to share are little trivial bits and pieces of my life.
So that will continue today...in lieu of big thoughts which honestly, I just don't have, I'll simply let you in a bit deeper into my life. With that- Everyone, I'd like to introduce you to, Leo; Leo, these are my blog land friends...
Leo is my very first plush toy. His mane is a rabbit pelt which has become brittle and dry. He's stuffed with excelsior, which was the preferred stuffing used for very high-end toys. It's a thread made of wood, so over the years, he's become quite crunchy when you touch him. His head has become wobbly and leans to the side; like mine when I'm feeling sick. To keep him safe, he's now perched on one of my closet shelves, just inside the door so we can visit each day. Spend a precious few minutes with each other. It's okay if he peeks while I undress...
Tucked somewhere in a drawer, is a picture of a tiny baby on her tummy smiling for the camera, and next to her is a very handsome lion fellow. With stiff whiskers, and a tiny pink tongue, and a feathery soft, luxuriant mane that really draws the eye. If I ever locate the photo, I'll share it with you. So you can see Leo in his salad days. When we were first becoming acquainted.
Over time, he's seen a lot of stuffed toys come and go. Moved on to other kids or charitable organizations. Ones that used to occupy space on my bed that seemed very important to me at the time. But, I grew and out-grew them. But, not my lion...not Leo. I've taken him with me through every change and venue. Who can say what is the magic that turns some Thing into a Necessary Part of your being?
Old friends, he and I. And, I often wonder how he sees me these days. Have I changed so very much in his orange eyes, or does he still see me as the sweet youngster who toted him about with her everywhere? When I was young and all things were possible.
I suppose I hope that he simply sees me each day with as much love as I still hold for him all these years later. Love me for being the kind of girl who would keep him so close and safe for all this time. Leo, my oldest friend.
Namaste' Till Next Time,
Holly
12 comments:
Good morning, Holly,
It's interesting that both you and I included the sentiment of "Old Friends" in our respective blogs this week! For further illustration, I decided to include a video of Simon & Garfunkel singing their oldie of the same name. The concept of an old friend is almost too valuable to even describe. If we've properly cultivated the friendship over the years, its dividends and returns are immeasurable! Nice column!
Dave
Helpful Buckeye
Flagstaff, AZ
Good morning again, Holly,
I wasn't able to respond to your column yesterday about the prairie dogs, but I have an interesting tidbit to add about that. We have a lot of prairie dogs in the Flagstaff area, with many colonies in the city limits. A few years ago, I finished up assisting on a 3-year research project on prairie dogs, working with a doctoral student. I implanted over 1500 microchips into the enjoyable creatures so that we could later identify them. The project was a lot of fun, especially for someone who had worked exclusively on dogs and cats for 25 years. Last week, I started on another smaller project on prairie dogs, for the same person (who now is a Ph.D.) and watching the prairie dogs as they exhibit their behavior patterns will continue to be a joy for me!
Dave
Helpful Buckeye
Flagstaff, AZ
Hello Holly,
I feel much the same most days...nothing earth-shattering to say but enjoying a wander around BlogLand, popping my head into everyone's cubbies to see what they're up to...
I've just brewed a pot of tea so if you'd like to 'set a spell'...I've seen Leo, so I can show you Rabbit or else we'll just sit Be-ing until everyone else wanders in...
Hi Holly, I wish I had kept toys from my childhood, I don't have any...just my memories. I draw a blank somedays and wonder if maybe I am repeating myself, your post yesterday reminded me of home as lots of gophers...i am not sure if they are the same as prairie dogs, I think so. It was enjoyable reading your post as always. Take Care.
Why, hellOOOOoo, Leo! He really is quite dashing, and I think the fact that he's 'crunchy' is awesome. I still have my teddy, named (duh) Teddy -- I was 4, what can I say! Teddy has seen several reupholsterings, but also has the very precious neck tilt ... and his own corner of my closet. He does not and never has permitted photographs. He's sitting on a folded up quilt my grandmother made me when I was 8, which is now too disheveled and fragile for the bed. Treasures.
I LOVE this: 'on my Pooh days' -- I totally get that. I'm taking possession of the phrase, too, so you know. P.S. I like your Pooh days because generally it takes me at least 24 hours to mull over your deeper posts, and I don't like to interrupt my thoughts about one by introducing the next, so I find with your blog I'm always somehow on 'delay' ...
very interesting post, so true- we don't have to write meaningful things every single day...i like to post every day, but use a lot of my art and photographs too, not always wordy.
I wonder if Leo knows how very lucky he is?
I'm feeling in tune with you on this one. In fact, I really didn't feel like writing my post on Beltane today, but felt it had to be done ~ certainly had to be done this week, and I've got a school-teaching job tomorrow ... sigh. It was a struggle. What I really wanted to do was just share some anecdotes about little things happening around me. A pooh day, perhaps.
But on the subject of cuddly old friends, I have been terribly unsentimental in life, and not really hung onto any of mine. I feel quite ashamed to admit, as I started to suspect it was a flaw in my girliness when I looked back from my twenties. So, at age 23 a dear boyfriend gave me a large teddy to keep in my bed in his place when he was away in the Air Force. His name is Copper (both are handsome redheads) and he has stayed on my bed ever since. I do find it hard to sleep without him when I've no-one else to cuddle.
Love & Hugs
thank you for not letting me be alone today by being the only one with nothing BIG to share...nothing earth shattering anyway....BUT BUT BUT.....I love Leo to pieces !!!
well, first I'm a leo...so that right there means something....and old toys are my favorite thing EVER !!!
I had a blanket that I think mom still has at her house, which lived with me 24/7 for years and years !!!
and now I'm going to work on some thoughts and try to get them dowon on paper !!!!
Sweet, sweet Leo! How lucky you are to still have a Holly!!
Nothing really survived my childhood. I recently found my kindergarten Strawberry Shortcake metal lunchbox, and I was super stoked to have found that. But, not quite suitable for cuddling, ya know? Cold, square metal...
But, for Dylan...it is a monkey. He has really long arms and legs, he is gray, and his face used to be beige, but now is faded. He's had him since before he turned one. We will keep him safe until Dylan is ready to assume the role. They were fast friends, and are in it for the long haul.
I would tell you his name, but it changes all the time. 'Dylan's Monkey' is as close as it gets.
I have a bear ,and the picture of me and the bear when we were both very new. Sometimes I think I shouldn't be hanging onto him, for whatever silly reason, but I always come to my senses.
Leo is beautiful, and so are you. Thank you for your kind words on my blog. I wish you joy!
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