DONNA BEAR ....a face only a Mother or small child could love!

DONNA BEAR

This is my childhood companion, Donna bear. I have no idea where I got that name from, but I called him that from the begining. He was sent to me when I was born, 61 years ago, from relatives in Germany. I was the first child and grandchild in my family, so that made me special, at least for eleven months. My sister followed eleven months after me and my brother, a year after her. In the end there were seven of us. Donna bear went EVERYWHERE I went . He was my friend when I was scouting around the woods next door and sitting in the tree house I built with my pal Jeff, who was a year younger. Other days, he was my baby when I was playing house with my friends Claudia and Sherry. What a sport good old Donna bear was. I had a baby doll, but for some reason I always ended up with Donna bear instead. He just had so much appeal. As the years went by, hanging out with me and my gang, Donna bear started getting frail.  As you can see, I loved him until his fur literally came off.
 I remember the day when, to my utter horror, his arm fell off, then his HEAD!!! What? How could this be? lucky for me, my grandmother was visiting and she quickly pulled out her knitting needles ( who would think of that ?) and started knitting him some new upper arms. Then she patiently sewed his head back on. As time went on Donna bear also got new felt pads on the bottom of his feet and yup, his head fell off again. So back on it went, along with a newly embroidered nose, ( my Grandmother embroidered too).
 Childhood goes fast and after a time, Donna bear sat in a quiet spot on my doll shelf. My younger sister Cindy always had her eye on MY Donna bear, and being eight years younger, she sprung like a coiled spring on him the minute I left for college.  I went off to school and then after school, I got married. Life took over and since I was now living three hundred miles from home, busy creating my own home with my husband, Donna bear faded into my past. Kinda.... Years went by and my younger two sisters ended up moving up to New England near me, getting married and having kids. One day not too long ago, we four sisters got together and spent some time at my parent's farm. We got to talking about our childhood memories and the things we did. I am not exactly sure how the topic of Donna bear came up, but when he did, I said how I missed him and that I wasn't sure where or who had him.  Cindy sat there kind of quiet and then said " I have him". WHAT? You have Donna bear?
My childhood companion, my baby, my sidekick?  Where is he exactly? I had many questions. Okay, she admitted that she too, loved him. He went from being my best pal to being hers. Well, I couldn't really blame her. He is a girl magnet. look at that face! That sweet little furry body...well it was furry.
 I know it wasn't easy for her, but Cindy agreed that he should be back with me since he was mine from the start.  Home he came after many years apart and I have to say, I thought he was even more beautiful . He had aged it was true but somehow it only added to his charm and appeal. Since coming to live in my house with me, Donna bear has made some new admirers. My three little granddaughters love him.They know that he is old and frail but that he loves kisses and gentle hugs. So he gets many, under my watchful eye. Don't want to traumatize anyone by having his head pop off when kissing him! As I was taking his picture for this post, I explained to him that I was writing about him and people everywhere would know of him. I swear that I saw a sparkle in his eyes...really.  Oh and yes, Donna bear is a Steiff !! My baby has come home....

Donna bear and some of his many lady friends.

Now where did Donna bear go?

Donna bear and Carolina ( who still needs stockings and shoes).