Heritage, Adventure and Getting a NAME
Journal Entry for 16 Jan 2006
From Heri Poh - from Vicki's house
Sorry - that would be Mizviki !!
Location: Oregon
A lady walked into the store and I immediately knew she was the one. It was my turn to go. She walked directly to my shelf – reached up and picked up the girl next to me! “No, not her!” “It’s my turn to go”, I yelled, but she just gave me a sideways glance and started fussing with that girls fur. I was about to give up when she gently set her back on the shelf and picked me up. “Yes!!!” I tried looking as cute & cuddly as I could, but its tough being a teddy bear. You just never know what humans want. She pulled and stretched my fur around my eyes until I thought she’d never quit.
But, I’m getting ahead of myself, let me tell you my story from the beginning.
You see I’ve waited for a very long time to be chosen. Being just a cute, fuzzy bear isn’t exactly all its cracked up to be. I was born into the TY company “Beanie Babies Collection” on November 19th, 2003. I weighed 4 oz and stretching my paws as much as I could and standing up very straight I reached 7 ½”. They named me “Whittle”. Can’t say as I’ve been overly fond of that name, but that’s what I was called.
Over the next year or so I watched a lot my friends leave the assembly line and head off to start their lives in the big world. I kept getting overlooked. I’m not sure why… but the supervisor of shipments kept setting me aside. Eventually, my turn came and I was packed in a box along with many other little “Beanie Baby” critters and off we went.
It seemed like absolutely forever before we arrived at our destination. I can’t tell you where it was but I can tell you it was boring! Someone said it was a warehouse for Hallmark. We all knew that was good news because Hallmark treats you nice. And, they did … but 2 years?
By the time I’d landed on that shelf in Hillsboro, Oregon I can’t tell you how disillusioned I was. I’d actually given up all hope of ever finding a home. My friends kept telling me not to worry I was probably going to be chosen for something really special. When the store lights went out at closing we would talk among ourselves as to what that meant. Some wanted to go to hospitals and help the sick kids, others wanted to travel with a circus but most were content to be with an ordinary family, even if it meant being ignored for months at a time, at least they’d be warm and safe.
Finally, on that very wet and rainy Monday morning a lady came in the door of the store. She talked to the clerk for a minute and then walked right up to our shelf. I found out later I could call her Mizviki. I’m ok with that. I was so happy she was taking me home I didn’t care what I was going to be used for. I couldn’t hardly contain myself.
After we got in the car, she pulled me out of the bag and introduced me to her husband and dog. Yes, a dog! A little white mutt they called, Emma. She wasn’t thrilled with me and didn’t give me a hello or anything. That was just fine with me, because I’d heard that dogs are sometimes not very easy to live with.
So, as we’re pulling out of the parking lot, she asks her husband to drive someplace where she could get pictures of me with the flood waters.
What!!!??? If this means I have to swim, forget it! I want back on that shelf.
We drove for a short distance and they got out discussed it and set me up on a fence post. It was raining. I could have cared less about the flood. I wanted back in that car! I will say, she took a small piece of plastic bag and set it under me and then he held the umbrella over the top of me to try to keep me dry. Eventually, the photo session was over and she dried me off and we headed home.
Well, over the course of the next several days, Mizviki let me know all about the Yahoo internet group “Preserving Our Heritage” and how many fine & wonderful folks were out there just waiting to have me come visit them. I have the honor and privilege of getting to travel the world to meet them in person. So, this is what’s in store for me and I’m so excited, I can’t hardly wait. I promise I will try to keep up with writing in this journal and share my experiences with everyone as best I can. I’m also working on opening my eyes real wide so you can all see them in the pictures. And, I’m not quite so nervous now when she drags out the camera.
So, that’s about it for now. Oh, one more thing… I have a new name now… Everyone that signed up to host me in their homes in the next few months have voted and my new name is Heri Poh.
From Heri Poh - from Vicki's house
Sorry - that would be Mizviki !!
Location: Oregon
A lady walked into the store and I immediately knew she was the one. It was my turn to go. She walked directly to my shelf – reached up and picked up the girl next to me! “No, not her!” “It’s my turn to go”, I yelled, but she just gave me a sideways glance and started fussing with that girls fur. I was about to give up when she gently set her back on the shelf and picked me up. “Yes!!!” I tried looking as cute & cuddly as I could, but its tough being a teddy bear. You just never know what humans want. She pulled and stretched my fur around my eyes until I thought she’d never quit.
But, I’m getting ahead of myself, let me tell you my story from the beginning.
You see I’ve waited for a very long time to be chosen. Being just a cute, fuzzy bear isn’t exactly all its cracked up to be. I was born into the TY company “Beanie Babies Collection” on November 19th, 2003. I weighed 4 oz and stretching my paws as much as I could and standing up very straight I reached 7 ½”. They named me “Whittle”. Can’t say as I’ve been overly fond of that name, but that’s what I was called.
Over the next year or so I watched a lot my friends leave the assembly line and head off to start their lives in the big world. I kept getting overlooked. I’m not sure why… but the supervisor of shipments kept setting me aside. Eventually, my turn came and I was packed in a box along with many other little “Beanie Baby” critters and off we went.
It seemed like absolutely forever before we arrived at our destination. I can’t tell you where it was but I can tell you it was boring! Someone said it was a warehouse for Hallmark. We all knew that was good news because Hallmark treats you nice. And, they did … but 2 years?
By the time I’d landed on that shelf in Hillsboro, Oregon I can’t tell you how disillusioned I was. I’d actually given up all hope of ever finding a home. My friends kept telling me not to worry I was probably going to be chosen for something really special. When the store lights went out at closing we would talk among ourselves as to what that meant. Some wanted to go to hospitals and help the sick kids, others wanted to travel with a circus but most were content to be with an ordinary family, even if it meant being ignored for months at a time, at least they’d be warm and safe.
Finally, on that very wet and rainy Monday morning a lady came in the door of the store. She talked to the clerk for a minute and then walked right up to our shelf. I found out later I could call her Mizviki. I’m ok with that. I was so happy she was taking me home I didn’t care what I was going to be used for. I couldn’t hardly contain myself.
After we got in the car, she pulled me out of the bag and introduced me to her husband and dog. Yes, a dog! A little white mutt they called, Emma. She wasn’t thrilled with me and didn’t give me a hello or anything. That was just fine with me, because I’d heard that dogs are sometimes not very easy to live with.
So, as we’re pulling out of the parking lot, she asks her husband to drive someplace where she could get pictures of me with the flood waters.
What!!!??? If this means I have to swim, forget it! I want back on that shelf.
We drove for a short distance and they got out discussed it and set me up on a fence post. It was raining. I could have cared less about the flood. I wanted back in that car! I will say, she took a small piece of plastic bag and set it under me and then he held the umbrella over the top of me to try to keep me dry. Eventually, the photo session was over and she dried me off and we headed home.
Well, over the course of the next several days, Mizviki let me know all about the Yahoo internet group “Preserving Our Heritage” and how many fine & wonderful folks were out there just waiting to have me come visit them. I have the honor and privilege of getting to travel the world to meet them in person. So, this is what’s in store for me and I’m so excited, I can’t hardly wait. I promise I will try to keep up with writing in this journal and share my experiences with everyone as best I can. I’m also working on opening my eyes real wide so you can all see them in the pictures. And, I’m not quite so nervous now when she drags out the camera.
So, that’s about it for now. Oh, one more thing… I have a new name now… Everyone that signed up to host me in their homes in the next few months have voted and my new name is Heri Poh.
posted by Deb @ 11:18 PM
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