Ted: The Story of My Most Prized Possession - Danielle Loubier - ENG300

Ted

AUG. 29, 2015

 

 

By DANIELLE LOUBIER

 

I thought about what my most prized possession is for hours. I wanted to pick something unique and interesting; an object that no one else had. I asked some of my friends and family. Everyone agreed with what I was thinking, “Danielle, you’re not very materialistic. I can’t think of any one possession you prize over another.” It’s true; I’m a downsizer. I get rid of my things when I don’t need them anymore or when they get old. Yeah, I have special pictures, but I wouldn’t say they’re necessarily prized. I don’t have them on display, I haven’t had them since I was young, and I don’t show them off. My boyfriend had an awesome idea. He said, “Why don’t you write about a memory?” I loved that idea, and as tempting as it is, I thought it might not categorize as a possession. So, after much consideration, I finally came up with the one object I’ve had for a long time, one that when I look at now reminds me of my childhood. It’s extremely cliché, but alas, he is my most prized possession. Ted.

 

            I promise Ted was named way before the raunchy movie comedy by Seth MacFarlane starring Mark Wahlberg. My Ted is also a teddy bear, though, and when I was little, my Ted talked, too. I received Ted on my second birthday from my dad. I don’t remember this, but since the day I received Ted, he did not leave my side for years. If my parents would have let me take him to school and church I would have. He is about a foot tall while sitting, which he’s very good at doing because of his bean butt. His stuffing/bean combination makeup does not allow him to stand, although I must’ve tried to make him one hundred times. He is light brown, has curly “fur,” and a small nose made from black thread (a few years ago, one thread came loose, but I’ve just left it the way it is).

            Ted has had an interesting life. He’s endured multiple decapitations and punctures with scars to prove. Luckily, his injuries were nothing a thread and needle couldn’t fix. He permanently has a sweet maple syrup scent because of his many weekend visits to the breakfast table. Ted is a unique bear. Even though he has resided in my multiple closets (because of multiple moves) for years now, every time I take him down, he reminds me of the good times we’ve shared. In elementary school, Ted was my protector from the monsters that lived under my bed, he was my pillow to cry on when I got in trouble and was sent to my room for a timeout, and was a friend to talk to when days got lonely. He made friends with my trolls, Barbies, and other stuffed animals throughout the years. Every other stuffed animal just couldn’t match up with Ted, though. He swung on the swing set, slid down the slide, and sat in my tree house with me. He was my patient and student, but mostly just my constant friend.

            On my sister’s first birthday, Ted bore witness to his clone. My dad got my little sister, Ashley, the same exact teddy bear, minus the neck stitches and maple smell, that is, for her first birthday. We all named the new bear Ted II. I’m unsure of Ted II’s fate, as he is now sixteen years old, and Ashley is too cool for stuffed animals. But, my Ted was fortunate enough to survive my pre-teen, teen, and high school years. Better yet, I was fortunate enough to have a friend who is my constant memory to always stay young in my heart and mind. No matter how old I get and how stressful life becomes, Ted will be waiting in my closet for me to take him down and remember to nurture the child in my heart.