My bad. I glanced at an email this morning and thought it announced National Teddy Bear Day. It didn't. The good news is that Teddy Bears are celebrated nationally on September 9. Plus, there's a silver lining. Teddy Bears are so cool they are celebrated today and every July 10. It's National Teddy Bear Picnic Day today!  (You can sing about it with Anne Murray, Teddy Bear's Picnic.) The soft cuddly bear brought to life more than 100 years ago has its own national picnic day. Human beings should be so wise and remember to picnic as much.

You probably know that the Teddy Bear was named for Teddy Roosevelt. "The story goes that President Theodore Roosevelt was on a hunting trip in Mississippi when he refused to shoot a small bear cub. A local store owner, Morris Michtom, heard about the incident and made a stuffed bear cub and called it 'Teddy’s Bear.' The toy became popular and Michtom founded the Ideal Novelty and Toy Company, which is still in business today." (From:  National Teddy Bear Day web information) 

What you don't know is that when my brother was almost three George could not fall asleep without his teddy bear. If he couldn't sleep then apparently no one else could sleep - neither my mother, father nor my sister, Suzie. (I wasn't even a thought at that point.) 

Family lore says that little Georgie may have wailed quite a bit when his Cuddles got left behind at our grandmother's home in Maine. No replacement teddy bear would do. His little lungs were strong enough to tempt my mother (who didn't drive) to contemplate making the trek from Manhattan to Maine in order to retrieve Cuddles. FedEx was born in 1973, USPS Express Mail debuted in 1970. UPS overnight shipping began in 1985. Georgie and Cuddles were separated decades earlier. Yet, there was goodness in the world! Our Uncle Louis heard cries for help and raced Cuddles from Brunswick to Boston and somehow got Cuddles on a train to New York City. 

That's where the story ends for me. I have no idea how transportation for Cuddles was arranged. Did he have his own seat? Did he have a half priced ticket? Was the little guy in cargo with other wayward teddy bears? Did he get to sit up front with the engineers? (I got to pilot a train once. Did he?) If so, did Cuddles blow the train whistle a lot? Was he served a meal of nuts, berries and honey? Or did he walk the aisle to find the train's café car?

Until my siblings chime in, I'll never know the full story. The part I know is that my Uncle Louis was not only caring, he was compassionate and willing to take extraordinary action to help his sister-in-law, brother, niece, and especially, his little nephew regain some peace and comfort. 

Thank you, Uncle Louis, for having been the face and hands of goodness many times in your life both personally and professionally. This wasn't your first act of kindness; it certainly wasn't your last. When I see your photo I see goodness. Goodness, kindness and love. I also see goodness on the faces and in the hearts of your whole family. You'd be as proud of them as we were of you. Your goodness continues. 

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Photo note:  The photo here is of Cuddles II. Cuddles Sr. is still brightening George's life, out of reach of my camera's lens this week. In the circle of life, George and Sheila now tenderly care for Cuddles, assuring his nose stays intact and his worn covering keeps Cuddles whole. Decades ago Cuddles provided comfort and now is lovingly tended to and honored for his goodness. Goodness ripples.