It started ever so slowly and over a period of time, I suffered no ill effects. I started buying one of the Cherished Teddies here and a few Department 56 Snowbabies there. I could handle the situation. I was in control. Gradually, these purchases became more urgent. I needed more and more to satisfy the hunger...this craving...to amass an entire collection.

Soon, it became quite evident that other collectibles were out there with my name written on them, just waiting for me to buy them. I discovered that my "addiction" could be satisfied if I purchased Boyd's Bears and TY Beanies...oh the horror of it!

Most people outgrow their desire to collect teddy bears. My fondness for teddy bears continued to grow. Over the years, teddy bears had to "play second fiddle" in my life. Normal human events of love, marriage, child raising, work, came to take more and more of my time. The time for teddy bears had to be put on hold until some other day. A few years ago, that day arrived and my "collect-a-holism" kicked into overdrive.
Perhaps some of you may have visited eBay and noticed the ID...
unbearable.

What a thrill it was for me to discover that I no longer had to leave home to acquire the collectibles that I longed for. They were all there, the Snowbabies, the Cherished Teddies, the Boyds Bears, and the TY beanies. Be still my restless heart!

With my coming of age, passing the half century mark, also brings my reflections on life and what our future as a Nation will be. Are we destined to become a Nation who follow our leaders blindly and submissively into the next century? Will be learn from our mistakes or will we be re-living the past and merely existing in the future? Will the value of human life become more important than a political ploy or will our Nation's leaders keep considering it an expendable commodity? I hope to be able to, at least, express my thoughts on these and other problems of the day...all the while holding on to my "teddy" for moral support.