Travels With Pooh

We've just moved and are still dealing with the unpacking mess. We have unpacked almost all of the giant boxes, so when people ask if we're all unpacked I can say honestly "almost!"

What that really means is that my giant boxes have turned into large piles separated into their appropriate rooms, which in turn are made into smaller piles into appropriate corners/shelves/closets of said room, a vital sorting process that is frequently undone as soon as my back is turned.

People who have moved usually qualify this 'moved in' question with "can you function? is it livable? do you have more mess than boxes?" etc., but people who haven't sometimes can't understand what takes so long. Honestly, it usually takes me a year before I feel moved into a place - the exception being Europe because we "travelled light", only taking four suitcases, five carryons and three carseats. Of course, American "light" still makes taxi drivers and hotel managers eyes bulge.

Unpacking is a journey of self-discovery. For example, I spend most of the time thinking about "why did I think that was important enough to carefully put in a box, store/ship/move it, and then take it out again?" and "I know I put that very important thing here somewhere. Where did it go?" I admit I spend at least 50% of my time looking for bills/keys/scissors that I had in my hand 30 seconds before.

What does any of this have to with Pooh? After having begged me to find the box hiding her stuffed friend, my daughters' entire body exploded with joy when we finally found that special box and unwrapped its contents. Winnie-the-Pooh was the first toy my oldest ever picked out for herself, and it has been the most enduring. Winnie-the-Pooh or Pooh Bear, as we like to call him, has been to more countries than many adults and was one of those few things that made all the transitions we've made this year a little easier. Pooh Bear, just by existing, helps make my daughter deal with all the worries and stresses, making them a little more 'bear'able.

Unlike people, who are sometimes unpredicable, Pooh Bear is a constant companion and fills whatever role helps her to work out the problems of her day. There is nothing at all like having a friend who never disappoints you, disagrees with you or acts contrary.

With his tooth-marked ears and patched nose, we're all waiting for Pooh Bear to make the Velveteen Rabbit transition and become a real bear just from the sheer magic of total unharnessed love.