V thinks Manny should have his own site. I don’t know. I tried to get him his own email, but Google didn’t want to give it to him for two reasons. 1) He was underage, and 2) He didn’t look human. go figure
So I lied about his age, and got one anyway, but I couldn’t complete his profile because he still didn’t look human. So he wanted to clean up a bit and look a little more human. He saw Ute’s teddies having a bath, and that gave him courage. His bath was a riot, and I thought you might agree.
The instructions for Manny’s bath were as follows: Mild suds, cold water, air dry, brush gently. Manny didn’t want cold water, so he got a nice warm bath. It’s still cool here. He also hasn’t allowed me to brush him, Gently or otherwise. Kalev hid out all during Manny’s bath.
Manny was made by Gund Toy Manufacturers in Edison, New Jersey, but you can buy Manny at Amazon.
“The leading soft toy manufacturer in the U.S., and also the oldest, GUND was founded by German immigrant Adolph Gund in Norwalk, Connecticut in 1898. GUND was one of the first companies to design and produce teddy bears in the early 1900s.” Since Tulare County is the size of Connecticut, Manny is glad he came to live here.
Developed apparently simultaneously by toymakers Morris Michtom in the US and Richard Steiff in Germany in the early years of the 20th century, and named after Theodore (Teddy) Roosevelt, (who wouldn’t shoot the bear cub after a hunt during which time it had been mistreated), the teddy bear became an iconic children’s toy…
“Teddies” have greatly varied in form, style and material. They have become collector’s items, with older and rarer “teddies” appearing at public auctions.[2] Teddy bears are among the most popular gifts for children and are often given to adults to signify love, congratulations or sympathy.” Wikipedia
Manny was a Valentine’s gift several years ago after V had given me families and families of bears. Somehow Manny rose to the top of the heap. He has made both of us laugh when laughing wasn’t the highest priority on our list. If we had had a fight, and I had gone to bed angry, often V would come in with Manny and put him in my face and make Manny talk, or turn his head. I couldn’t stay mad with Manny all over me. It worked just as well with V when he was mad.
I had heard that teddy bears were often used in therapy for young children, but they are also used with adults as well. The year I got Manny my boss told me that she had a bear, and it went everywhere. I figured if Dr. Baake and her husband could take a bear with them to places, so could I. I took Manny to the next retreat that consultants and administrators from all over California County Offices attend each year. One of the other consultants in our office brought the doll her husband had given her for Valentine’s day as well. Manny has been going places with us ever since.
V told me again today, Manny needs his own blog. I guess we will have to travel more and take him places – like Justin Beaver, Eternal Traveler’s travel partner. Or fight!
What have teddy bears done for you? Do you have a favorite one?
Here are some articles about teddy bears used in therapy.
http://articles.latimes.com/1991-12-24/local/me-834_1_teddy-bears
Teddy Bear Therapy
Marsha Ingrao - Always Write 
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