edge of the continent

I don’t like having a lot of “stuff” in my home that I don’t enjoy, need, or love, so I’m working on developing a less sentimental attitude towards those things that I’ve held onto over the years with little consideration for why I kept them. This has led to odd little pangs of resistance in some surprising instances: do I keep the cute erasers collected in a little tin from elementary school? How about the knickknack picked up on this trip with that person which continues to remind me of both, whether I am interested in remembering either of them or not?

One thing — or a pair of things, rather — that were happily held onto were the teddy bears my sister and I received as Christmas gifts when we were eight or so. Snuggle and Fluffy, as they were so imaginatively named, accompanied us everywhere. Fluffy developed an alter-ego named ‘Footy’ — on her foot, no less — who terrorized me from time to time. Regardless of the season, they were dressed in swimsuits accessorized with enthusiastically, if not all that accurately, crocheted swimcaps tied under their chins. Over time, their airy fur matted down into cozy nubs, while their soft insides settled into comfortable, floppy shapes. Bare spots began appearing in their coats. Poor Fluffy lost an eye somewhere along the way.

These days, the pair belong to my sister’s little girls, who squeal and hug them tight as we once did. Neither are much bigger than the bear they now call their own. Each time I see them eschew their newer, louder, shinier toys in favor of our little old bears, I am reminded of the story of The Velveteen Rabbit — and of just how real they have truly become.

I’m sick with my second cold in three weeks. I tried resting very quietly in bed today, but admitted defeat and got up after listening to the maintenance crew tear up the concrete in front of my doorway for several hours.

I met up with friends on Saturday to hike and do some geocaching at Mission Trails. It was a gorgeous day — not too hot, not too cold — and although we only found two of the three caches we were hunting for, the scenery and quiet were lovely enough to make up for it.

Laura searching through the brush.

Walking along the San Diego River.

The team taking a break to enjoy the view.

Afterwards, I met up with another friend to watch El Orfanato (The Orphanage) in Hillcrest. I never seem to know how to talk about movies without giving away too many spoilers, so all I will say is that: a) I enjoyed it very much, and b) seriously, don’t stand in the middle of the street. Ugh.

Four years ago today, my sister called me at two a.m. and asked me to come to the hospital, please — she was in labor and gave birth to a beautiful girl later that morning. Two years ago today, she called to say she was glad she had finished baking her daughter’s birthday cake the day before, as she had gone into labor overnight. The family celebrated two birthdays in her hospital room that day with a big red Elmo cake.

Happy birthday to my P(e)ar Bear and Kar-kar! My sister would kill me if I posted a snapshot of her girls without asking first (hi there, K!), so instead I offer a picture that the oldest niece took of her toys last summer: