I have friends that have either dogs or cats; some have both. They call their pets “Fur babies”. Mine is stuffed. He can fit in my pocket, go anywhere and never has to have his poop scooped. Charlie was a rescue bear and it took a year of living with me before a 10 year old girl said, “Wow, you have a bear in sheep’s clothing! Really? It turns out that it is a real thing from the past. Who knew? I thought he just had a cute little hat.
Charlie came to live with me right after I had been diagnosed with hashimotos. The doctors said they did not have any treatment for me and to just “live with it”. Shortly after, I met a lady in Murphy, NC, who was a kinesiologist, and she asked if I wanted her to do some kinesiology and maybe I might feel a little better. I was ready to do anything to feel better. After doing a little testing, some therapy, some Reiki, some this, some that, she asked me to look around and see if anything in the room stood out for me. That is when I saw Charlie. Our eyes met from across the room. She reached over and gave him to me and said, “Your problem is in your throat and use this bear to say the words you have been holding back from saying”. Boy, did she open up a can of worms and there is no going back now.
Since then Charlie has traveled all over the place with me. He has gone on cruises, hiked parts of the Appalachian trail, danced, shopped and overall has just been there with me. He has been my binky. His biggest gift was in helping my sweetie and I to enhance our communication. Instead of us getting in an argument about what was messy or not done right, it was Charlie who didn’t put the dishes in the sink or that tracked dirt on the newly mopped floor. Charlie forgot to take out the trash or read the signs wrong when he was navigating. It got to be a joke between us that “Charlie did it”. It was a great way for us to be able to get a point across to the other person without hurting feelings or making someone feel judged. He not only helped me to say what was on my mind, but he helped my sweetie to be able to talk without arguing. It seems we have figured out how to communicate without Charlie. I have also learned that I don’t need to “bite my tongue”. As long as the words are said in a loving tone the message is well received.
For the last year, Charlie has stayed at home a lot. He sits on the bench by the front door. He has good company with the bust of Grandpa and Niles, our Frog butler. Sometimes, Charlie still goes with us. I am hoping if we can travel across the country that Charlie will stow-away at the last minute.
