Julie M Anderson

Describe an item you were incredibly attached to as a youth. What became of it?

Yeah, I have a teddy bear. He is a Build A Bear creation. When I was growing up, Care Bears were a thing. I actually had most of them. My parents weren’t together, and my collection was hastily left half way through my senior year.

For a long time, there were no bears. Yes, I get it. Jules, you were basically an adult. Ok, yes, reader, that is true. I was also tue product of a broken home with some abusive parents on both sides. It took me a little while to come to terms with “adulthood”.

So I cut off a lot of my childhood. I may go back and deal with more of it. Later. Maybe. I dunno. Maybe write some books about it. Who knows.

Anyways, I was, moving forward, sans bear.

So I made one. That wish thing that you do as you hold the bears little red heart in your hand before you poke it into place was for me to always have a friend. Silly, right?

Orin is upstairs next to my bed. My adult bed. He’s gone with me on many trips, many vacations. He’s a little extra-loved at this point. And his t-shirt has a sharpie marker stain.

My kids know he is “my bear” and off limits for all kid shenanigans. He also has force-choke immunity. But that’s another story.

I’m off to work. Stay out of each other’s hair, ok?

💜