18 December 2006
Bedtime. And the camera spent the day on the coffee table—unused. So, I parade my little bare feet into the living room and bring the camera back to the bedroom . . . hmmm . . . what charming little still life shall we . . . aha! The teddy bear that looks down on the bed from a nearby shelf smiles at me as if to say, “ME! Pick me! I want my picture taken.” Yep. He’s pretty cute.
Kyle just asked me where he came from, and I told him the little story of this fellow getting my attention as I shopped in a thrift store in Wisconsin a couple of summers ago. He was a little scruffy, but so unique—and heaven knows I like unique! He’s made of that wonderful snuggly chenille fabric they used to make bedspreads out of. And the striped bow tie matches the bottoms of his little feet! I was hooked. So, for less than a buck, he went home with me. His first stop, though, was the laundromat! I figured I had little to lose. He got a thorough bath and came through the experience no worse for the wear. At the end of the summer he travelled with me back to Texas where he’s lived on a shelf next to the bed ever since. Recently, I put up taller shelves, and so he now has a better view.
I had a hard time holding the camera still enough for this shot. Kyle suggested using the flash, but I was adamant that I didn’t want a flash-lit photo. The lighting in the room was great, and I was very frustrated not to be able to capture it. I finally rigged a way to balance the camera on an object leaning on the shelf; got it all set up; holding it with my chin; okay, ready, here we . . . grrrr . . . camera decides it needs new batteries! Very annoyed at the timing, I stubbornly refuse to give up. Off. On. No screen. grrrrr. Try again. Okay, still no screen—I’m gonna take it anyway. I can pretty much tell what I’ve got framed, even though I cannot begin to reach to see into the tiny little viewfinder. So, I snapped the picture. And, voila! This is what I got! I’m delighted. And Teddy looks pretty smug, too!
~MB
