Karate Teddy - An Old Bear Story

by Jim
(Uk)

Old Bear Stories Featured at Bear Dictionary
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My Teddy Bear is 50 years old. My grandfather bought it for me when I was born. It used to make a sound, but due to some rough handling in its early years, it can no longer speak.


For many years it sat in the corner of my room, looking out at the cars driving past my bedroom window. When I was about 10 years old, I became interested in Karate, and at that
time, my bear became my sparring partner. Around this time, it lost the ability to talk! It took some heavy punishment, but survived, but a little worse for wear.


It never occurred to me to name my bear, although during the sparring period, I called it Chuck, after Chuck Norris, Bruce Lee’s famous opponent in Way of the Dragon. I was of course Bruce Lee!


My bear still has no name, and my family now put me in the category of being unsentimental and unappreciative of the softer side of life ( not that keen on Poetry either!) The reason I keep him now is because he probably now has antique value, and of course, it is last the link to my grandfather who died when I was six years old.


The material around the paws and feet is beginning wear and the stuffing is poking through. My next project, when I get time, will be to see if I can find someone who knows about restoring old bears. I will then pass it on to my daughter, who will name it and will hopefully still have it when she is 50 years old.



Jim