If Dot could talk...

Let me start first and foremost by sharing the story of how "Dot" came to be.

Tim was on duty, and I had to drive a friend to the Airport. I needed a babysitter quick, fast, and in a hurry. Luckily, one of Tim's friends voulenteered at the last moment. Off Audrey went to their house where she would spend the evening playing with the other 2 small children that lived there. After a long drive to and from Ontario International Airport (about 2 hours from 29 Palms) I arrived to pick up the baby. Then came the first time I laid eyes on the teddy bear. Audrey was passed out in her car seat clutching the bear that the babysitter's young daughter had given her. The girl had recieved the bear through a 'Toys for Tots' donation where every child of a Marine was given a small gift for Christmas. I really didnt think anything of it. I packed her in the car and went about my merry way.

As the months went on, I noticed a strong bond growing between Audrey and this bear. Although she didn't really say many words, there was an association between the word "Dot" and the teddy bear. Hence, the bear became known as Dot. As her speech progressed, she would even tag along "Dot ze bear" every time. If she dropped it somewhere she could not reach, she would point to me and say "Dot ze bear?". I would walk in to wake her up from her crib, see Dot on the ground, and it would be "Dot ze bear?". The first thing she said when she came out of the bath tub........"Dot ze bear?"

This bear went with her EVERYWHERE. It even made me late for work once. I was rushing out the door to take Audrey to the babysitters so I could get to work on time, when she dropped the poor thing into a dead piece of shrubbery. It was covered in those little prickly things that come off of dead plants. Audrey was a wreck. She just wanted "DOT ZE BEAR!!!". I was trying my hardest to pull out all of the little prickly things so Audrey could have her bear. I called work and frantically tried explaining to them that I was going to be late for work because I had to clean off Dot and it was an emergency...

"uhhh...Who's Dot?"

"YOU DONT UNDERSTAND I NEED TO SAVE DOT!"

Dot was as well traveled as Audrey was. It  (yes, 'it'. I never specified if Dot was a he or a she. I like it that way). occompanied her to San Diego, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Ohio, Yuma Arizona, amongst other places. Dot spend more time with Audrey than I did, as a matter of fact. It even appears in more pictures of her than any other person or thing. I wish this bear could talk and tell me all of the stories that I was never able to see or hear. I know there would be HUNDREDS of them. Because of what Toys for Tots did for me, I decided that in December, I would do something for them. I was able to hold a toy drive and donate many, many toys to the organization.

Although Dot can no longer be with Audrey now, Dot stays with me every night. I can still hold on to Dot at night and whenever I want to feel my baby close to me. Im sure that there will be more stories to come in this amazing bear's life.