The Black Hole

Every year about this time, I have ahead of me a project. Every year I dread it more. Is it because I’m getting older and it is harder to move about… underneath the house?

The hole is located behind a beautiful lace curtain that hangs over a doorway in the teddy bear room.

Behind the curtain is a “mess” of teddy bears, supplies and just “stuff” that belongs in a closet.

So, I begin to haul all of the “stuff” into the teddy bear room… to reveal the “hatch” that opens up to the black hole.

After going this far, I can’t turn back. So I open up the hatch and gingerly place my trusty step stool into the cold black area where the magic of Christmas resides… hidden away in blue bins.

Into the dark hole I go…. grasping for the string that hangs from the hole’s ceiling that will allow me to turn on the light.

OK, I’ve gotten this far. Now I need to drag each bin to the hole and ease it up into the closet. Good thing hubby was home so he could help drag the bins into the living room. (He gets the easy job).

So, bin after bin eases up into the teddy bear room. From there into the living room. And in a couple of hours it turns into this….

…. and that is what gives me the courage, year after year, to enter into the black hole that contains the magic of Christmas!

Hugs from Vicki and the Bears!

Cubby and Badger’s Arrival in Germany

Note: So many bears leave our little nest here in Alaska and I never hear from them again. I am happy to report that my good friend, Bine, in Germany has graciously agreed to share some pictures and teddy bear adventures of a couple of bears she has adopted from our home here in Alaska. This is their story, in her words!

Cubby is the first Alaskan wild, brown/green bear who came to the Odenwald in Germany. He looked a bit confused and lonely, and during the night he was uttering deep groans, so his new Mum decided to adopt a new bear from Alaska for companionship.

After weeks of impatient waiting, a small parcel from Alaska arrived. When the postman rang the bell, Cubby got up from the sofa like a flash of lightening and curiously examined the parcel…

….. and found Badger, a little black fellow with a soft glossy fur and broad stampy paws.

Cubby tried to pursuade Badger to come out of the parcel, but Badger felt still a  bit dizzy from the long flight across the Arctic Ocean and Northern Greenland, plus the additional long stay in the customs office in Hamburg. He decided to stay in bed.

Finally Badger came out. They took a sniff of each other and then became friends!

Since then they stick together all day!

Thank you, Bine, for sharing this story with us. As I was typing your words, I couldn’t help but smile and feel little goosebumps and a lump in my throat. Not only did they find each other, but they helped us to find each other, too. Thank you for your friendship!

Many Hugs, Vicki & Bine