Dear Yuletide Author

I am hoping (REALLY REALLY HOPING) that I will have time to read my Yuletide story when the archive goes live. But, holiday obligations and all, so I may not be able to leap upon it with glee the instant it appears.

But THANK YOU IN ADVANCE!

TOTALLY late on this entry for the talking meme

Dear sophiap, I am very sorry I completely spaced on writing on December 10th. Buuuuuuut, your suggestion of childhood toys is extremely apt for this space between Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

When I was a tiny kid, I had a fuzzy toy seal named Skidder. Sadly, I don't remember what happened to Skidder, nor do I remember what happened to the furry pink bear that came after Skidder. (Dammit, I don't even remember her name. Augh!)

However, on Christmas Day in 1977, Gunderson Bear came into my life. I had asked for a Gund bear for that Christmas, and my parents found a super-fuzzy one for me. Gunderson became my closest companion, and went pretty much everywhere with me.

On Christmas Day 1979, Murphy Bear came to join our family. Much like his older brother, Murphy joined me for all sorts of adventures.

I still have them, and they're the bears that are my most frequent bedtime companions. (With Clovis Devilbunny and Prudence bunny keeping a safe eye on me through the night from above my pillow.) And every year, at midnight on Christmas Eve, I wish them both a happy birthday.