Herman by Jim Unger for May 20, 2021

Cue the music.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Fn36l_z3WY

That’s nothing. I have a frog who’s nearly 50.

And it looks all its age.

You have never brought him in for his shots. And he is going to need lots of expensive tests.

My dad gave me a teddy bear in the hospital the day I was born. That bear will be 64 in July.

Shows a lot of miles, just like the rest of us.

He must be a doctor with the red cross on his chest.

Awwwww, sweet!

He doesn’t look like Radar or Mr. Burns.

I still have a Coke bottle filled and capped with Fanta orange that I pulled out of a soft drink vending machine back in ’71.

Just think of all the keepsakes we have treasured for decades that someone else will get to toss in the dumpster.

Ted?

Almost lost him in that stint overseas, but got him evacuated and patched up to return to a comfortable existence.

Yes, but how many is that in teddy bear years?

I have a stuffed elephant that I got when I was six. I called him”elfant”. That was 62 years ago.

I used to volunteer with my mom and her hospital auxiliary friends, when they had a Stuffed Animal Hospital for a special event. I’m not sure who got the greatest joy from that – the kids with “as good as new” toys, or those of us who did the mending.

My favrite doll went to Toys For Tots, back when the Marines would repair and restore old toys. Doesn’t fit in this dispossible world.

My almost 70-yr. old puppy is bald and fragile. She comes out of storage a few times a year. My oldest brother gave me a huge yellow poodle when I was 17, and my younger brother gave me a Panda when I was about 15. Plus my mom, who died when I was 17, made a Mama and baby kangaroo set when I was about 8. I still have them, too.

The bear needs to see the Bear Ladies (The Repair shop). The owner needs a counsellor.