I was touched by dozens of you who shared your own childhood stories of loveys lost (and some found!) and how many of you wrote me with a desire to contribute in some way towards a new bear, or spent time scouring the internet and eBay in hopes of finding a replacement, and one of you who even thought of writing a story for Noah about the adventures of Backpack Bear out in the world in hopes of lessening the blow of his loss.
My twitter pal @WorkoutMommy heard the story about Backpack Bear and contacted me to say she had the same bear and wanted to mail it to us as a replacement. So, she did!
I cannot tell you how much EVERYTHING you all said and did meant to me.
But, the story doesn't end there.
I have some wonderful news.
On Thursday I drove up and down the road where the bus driver said Noah had last had the bear and within 20 minutes I found him laying face down in a left hand turn lane. He was missing his little red backpack but upon further searching I found it up on the sidewalk 20 feet away.
I grabbed him and ran back into my car and drove off in a state of shock. I couldn't believe I had actually found him.
I brought him home and washed him inside a pillowcase on the gentle cycle of the washing machine. He then took a ride inside the dryer set for fluff and when he came out he was good as new...or at least no worse for wear.
When Noah came home from school I handed him Backpack Bear and he looked at it for a moment with a questioning look and then ran in to his room where he held him and repeated "My Noah" over and over again.
He didn't let go of that bear for the rest of the day and when it came time for bed his faithful friend was snuggled up next to his cheek...
Right where he belonged.
I once was lost but now I'm found.
