Jill Smokler, AKA Scary Mommy
@scarymommy
Latest posts by Jill Smokler, AKA Scary Mommy (see all)
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Way back in July, I wrote about my genius mother move in buying a spare security bear for Ben. “Bo-Bo” had been discontinued and once Ben developed a deep attachment for him, I tracked down a second on e-bay. Shortly after, the spare was discovered much to my dismay. For weeks, Ben schlepped the two of them all around, somehow misplacing one along the way. I looked everywhere. Under beds, in closets, suitcases, the pantry, school… Everywhere. He was gone. There were no more on e-bay and I would just have to pray that we never lost the one and only Bo-Bo we now had.
Last night, we all went out to dinner. Afterwards, we walked over to Marshall’s to get some new PJ’s for the kids. Lily and Ben lusted after all the toys while Jeff and I examined racks of nightgowns and flannel pajamas. Suddenly Lily shouted “Bo-Bo” and my heart skipped a beat. Could there really another Manhattan Bear, style 6743, right here in a Marshall’s less than two miles from my house? What were the chances?!! Score! I peered over and saw the familiar ear peeking out from behind the Snoopy dolls and stuffed hearts. I started to pull him out from the bin, just giddy with my new acquisition. But then I realized something. Something amazing. This was not a Bo-Bo. This was the Bo-Bo. The Bo-Bo with the raspberry bar still stuck in his paw. The Bo-Bo boasting a faint smell of popcorn and wet dog. The Bo-Bo with the tear on his left ear and tag with my son’s initials on his bottom. It was nothing short of a miracle!
Once the shock and awe wore off, the reality if Bo-Bo’s journey hit me. I’d been to that Marshall’s many, many times since July. I’ve often rummaged through those toy bins and never once spotted the familiar tan bear. Where had he been hiding all this time? It had been six months! Why had an employee never trashed him? How many children had grabbed him only to have their disgusted mothers chuck him back? Oh the journey our poor little bear had seen. Corduroy had nothing on him. If only he could speak, the stories he would tell.
Found Bo-Bo will be getting prime real estate in Ben’s room tomorrow, after receiving a good washing with extra detergent. The other one is headed to the closet for safe keeping– I always want to know where at least one of them is located. But, first I’m letting poor Bo-Bo spend the night in my bed. He’s definitely earned it.
{ 50 comments… read them below or add one }
OMG! That is an awesome story! Congrats on finding him, what a great day for everyone, including Bo-Bo. :)
WOW! I can’t believe that…maybe you should micro-chip him like a dog!
That’s amazing! I kept waiting for the part where you had to wrestle the missing Bo-Bo out of a stranger-child’s grasp. This was a much happier ending.
And what a cute little bear – no wonder he loves it (them) so much.
I can’t believe you found the BoBo! Crazy.
I love your recollection of your childhood stuffed animals. I was the same way. At night I crammed all of them in the bed with me. If I woke to find that one was on the floor I felt so horrible that it had spent the entire night there. It certainly got extra love all day long. Guess I have always rooted for the underdog :)
That’s nothing short of a miracle. This made me tear up! LOL! I LOVED this story!! You need to send it in to one of the parenting magazines!!!
This sounds like an ending to a brilliant children’s book with beautiful illustrations!
THAT is the very best story I have ever heard! Stuffies are totally alive on some dimension, at some frequency, and love unconditionally- I , too, will pick them up here and there because they cry out to me through their stuffing, I hear heart beats…Tears are wrecking my vision now… I LOVE this story! I love that BooBoo is the real ONE!
A couple of years ago I found my “bubbles” doll wadded up in a corner of a junk shoppe, about a thousand miles from where he was left, where I grew up- but there he was, My Bubbles- same fingers chewed off, same scar across her chest from when my brother hanged him ,to tease me, same eye bulging and lipstick smear on his cheek. My Bubbles.
He lives in my closet now, safe and sound and hidden, you know, because grown women do not have such attachments…
no way! I can’t believe you found him!
on another note, I am still convinced today that when I turn out the lights all my stuffed animals come alive and have a party while I sleep.
Great story…and glad to hear new life will be return to you a neglected childhood toy :)
Check out this slow motion of a bullet through a watermelon.
so that is amazing. did you have to buy him??? did you just take him??? did you tell the store people what happened? so many questions. that is really incredible that you found him. Amazing.
LOVE it!
This is a children’s book in the making!
PS- I totally have a Bo-Bo. My parents also searched for a second just in case but never found one. He’s tucked away in my closet, 36 years young.
That’s crazy!
It’s a sign from the Gods or something.
The GODs of Marshalls I think.
They are telling you to never ever buy another stuffed animal from there since you don’t know if it’s some kids nasty old one.
No. Effin’. Way.
That is so cool! I’m wondering, too, how you got out of the store with him… did you just grab Bo-Bo and make a run for it?
Wow, that is amazing. I can’t believe that you found him. He was meant to be with you.
That is honestly incredible! Once again, kudos on your brilliant mother move. And this is yet another, in a long line, of reasons to LOVE (actually worship is a better word) Marshalls.
This is definitely a heart warming story of a boy and his bear …and would make for a fantastic children’s book!
Write IT!!
That is just plain crazy! Bo-Bo is special indeed!
Great picture of sweet Ben with both Bo-Bos too!
Oh what an amazing story! My son has two blankets. He calls them his babies. I tried that swapping thing and when he realized there was two of them he has to alway have both! I found you because of my friend dawn. She told me about the story and said I had to stop by. :)
That is just to crazy! How could that bear have been there for so long? Bo-bo was meant to come home! How cool and I’m sure Ben is just happy to have him while you are still blown away by even finding him.
That pic is priceless!!! loved the story
Ahw man that’s AWESOME!! And I seriously second getting them tagged or something :D
LOL at the microchip. Awesome idea!!
I just took him- I told the checkout clerk the whole story, but she didn’t give a shit. And, I was far, far more excited than Ben. I really get chills just thinking about it!! The Marshall’s Gods were totally watching over us.
And I wish I could illustrate– the story just wrote itself!!
Three cheers for Bo-Bo!
maybe courduroy is true after all??
that was such a lovely post!!!!!!!! And a fricking miracle!
Just another reason to freaking LOVE Marshalls as far as I am concerned!
nooooo kidding? how awesome and amazing is that? wow, such luck. that mircochip idea, oh yeah for sure that would be a great idea. what a wonderful and touching story.
and you know, in the first part of your story, it was very comforting to read that as a child you swore your stuffed animals had feelings–I felt the exact same way. I would always alternate who sat where, so they could all take turns sitting in the window, or sitting on the bathroom sink in case they needed to use the water. I lost my favorite stuffed animal of all at some hotel. I never saw him again, and was crushed because I was so worried about him getting hurt and who was going to feed him…
I remember buying 5 of the puppies my daughter was obsessed with when she was little – 2 for my house, 1 for daycare, 1 for my parents house and 1 for my in-laws. We could spare no less. I loved this post!
This is the greatest story. Genius.
OMG! Did you make that sh*t up??? That is awesome.
Shut UP! You have got to be kidding! That is next to impossible. I am headed back to every Jack in the Box to see if Woody is still there. It’s been 7 years, but I miss that little guy… That is a GREAT story.
That is amazing!! WOW!
Awww. I love this story.
Okay dude – that is seriously a miracle and sounds like an after-school special for God’s sake. Unbelievable but I’m glad it happened to you guys. Your family seems so….nice. For lack of a better word. :-)
that is the best! Look how cute he is!
Okay, that is truly remarkable!
That’s amazing. Seriously. What are the odds?! Go buy a lottery ticket, STAT!
I used to think my Teddy Bear came to life and protected me while I slept, but only if his tag was cut off. After all, that is what kept them from running a muck in the factories.
BTW, that store is a-FREAKin-mazing
That is a fabulous story!
Wow! How did he end up on the shelf to be sold!?
Oh I LOVE that story! I’m SO happy for Bo-Bo and Ben! But I’m also happy to read that I’m not the only one who believes stuffed animals have feelings…I feel the same way, like if I kiss one – I have to kiss them all so that no one feels left out. Prior to reading your blog, I would’ve felt weird to write that – but now I know I’m not alone! yeah!
How cool is that?! I’m sure Ben is so happy. You can now make up tons of stories about BoBo’s adventures during the 6 month separation!
THat’s awesome!! How crazy is that!!
I’ve got two blankies in the closet that I wash on occasion for the “just in case”. My lil guy has one that he sleeps with but I’m prepared if something happens to it.
Definitely a great story :] How awesome is it that you actually found the old Bo-Bo again?! And really, that he never got tossed out?
I was also really sensitive towards my stuffed animals "feelings". Hell, I was sensitive about everything — I remember one time in a fit of rage at YET ANOTHER PB&J sandwich in my lunchbox, I squished the sandwich all to shit inside its sandwich bag. Then I cried and cried — how could I mush up that poor sandwich that just wanted to be eaten, that my mom had put so much love into making for me?
Seriously.
Seriously… what are the chances… truly a sweet story for that precious guy!
What a completely awesome and amazing story! With a very happy ending!
That is awesome–what a relief for everyone!
Ok, that is like a miracle!!!!!!!!! Unbelievable!!!!!!!
I understand completely how traumatic it can be to lose that prized possession… I have THREE of Reagan’s favorite puppy just in case we should lose the original. One is worn almost completely, one is just starting to show signs of age, and the third is tucked away to hopefully only be pulled out as a keepsake item for her little girl one day! But it’s on stand-by if need be!
Thanks for posting such an amazing story… maybe you should go buy a lottery ticket with luck like that!
I LOVE your blog! I’m a regular follower, but this is the first time I’ve left a comment. I promise there will be more in the future!
How cool is that!
WOW. That is amazing. And yes, a kids book to be SURE!
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