A Meme-oir Anthology

Ted Bear Esq.

C'mon kids - snuggle time.

Close as you like - that's alright.

Tonight's story is about me and my glasses and how that's an OK thing - wearing glasses.

AND (I can hear him from the next room, HARRUMPHING importantly) -

AND... it's about you kids too, and what kind souls you have.

I'll be ending the story by saying -

"... bless their small loving hearts. What a family!"

One day not too long ago, I suddenly found I had a vision shortfall, when I found my arms were too short for comfortable reading. Did they shrink, do you think? Funny - I didn't feel my arms getting smaller, but I needed to squint and twist my head every which way to read precious words.

Quite unbearable, until Mum bought spectacles for me. At first I felt sort of ashamed and scared. What would others think about Ted Bear Esq. in glasses? Snigger? Whisper behind my back? Maybe some wouldn't like me anymore. It felt gross, and made me SO unhappy. Trust Mum to gather up all you Small Knitty Gritty Kids – and Gran and Grandpa too – to talk it through.

You've all been SO kind... armfuls of hugs, and telling me over and over how much you loved me, with or without glasses. I could hardly bear it, and must admit to the odd sniffle.

And THEN, you went without all manner of things to give me warm and special scarves for the coldest nights (I know you tried to hide it, but remember, a bear always sleeps with his eyes open!) as I sit there – on guard – watching over Mum through the night. Who else but my dearest Small Knitty Gritty Kids would have guessed how mean those chilly nights can be as you sit perfectly still... for hours, and hours?

Ahh, bless your loving hearts. What a family!