Jonathan and his Teddy

Sometime during March 2013, Jonathan lost his "Dubbon", the Hebrew word for teddy bear. I must admit that when I gave him the little furry bear when he was about 1.5 years old, I was not too creative in naming it. Still Dubbon was a loyal companion to Jonathan and an inseparable part of our family for 4 long years. that is, until he was lost. We do not know when and where. We looked everywhere! The last pictures of Jonathan with the bear are from March 2013.

Dubbon was purchased in Germany in a drugstore chain called Schlecker, when Jonathan was 1.5 years old. The chain no longer exists. It went bankrupted. why is this important to write about here and not in the economic news? because Jonathan was doubly saddened by the loss of Dubbon, when he understood that the shop no longer exists, and thus I couldn't just go an purchase another. In the first few days after Dubbon disappeared Jonathan hardly noticed. Then her remembered him again and there was no end to his tears. He still misses Dubbon sometimes, but luckily, he has "Teddy"

When I saw that Jonathan was getting too attached to Dubbon, I began to worry what would happen if he would get lost. We only had one such bear, and getting another was impossible even in the days when Schlecker was still open, as the doll was purchased on a whim and came from a "one of a kind mix" basket. About the same time, we received yet another teddy bear of more or less the same size (but lighter fur color) from German friends. The second bear was thus christened "Teddy" (mommy once more showing total lack of creativity) , I started placing the both alternatively in Jonathan's bed.

Thus is Dubbon has or be washed because Jonathan insisted to have it sit during his dinner,or if Dubbon was forgotten at grandmas house, Teddy would be ready to fill the bears place. although the bears were never identical, they were similar in size and in design, and Jonathan grew to love both. It was however always obvious that Dubbon was preferred. It was however Teddy who came to the rescue when Dubbon was lost, thus fulfilling its true destiny. Although Jonathan missed Dubbon, he was happy to be comforted with Teddy at his side. And as time went by, he became more and more happy with Teddy.

It has been 8 months since Dubbon was lost. I am sure Jonathan still remembers that he had another bear, but he loved Teddy so much! In the time since Dubbon was lost, Jonathan has mentioned him a few times, but this has been happening less and less. (One particular incident resulting in my printing a picture of the whole family in which Dubbon is also to be seen, and hanging it on the wall as a memorial...Jonathan spent the next few days showing the memorial to all his friends...interesting ritual, but it worked, I guess it was his way to mourn the loss of the bear...The picture still hangs on our picture wall, but the larger image that served as a memorial has been removed). I know that he remembers that Teddy is not Dubbon, but now I also know he is happy with Teddy and still very much dependent on the (new) bear for his bedtime comfort. Rules are stricter with Teddy, who is not permitted to be taken out of the house (except to grandmas), but still he too gets misplaced...I am so glad I took care to present him with an alternative bear early in his dependence on Dubbon...but now, I have no alternative for Teddy...

Jonathan and Jasmin Playing, Dubbon in His Lap - Last Pictures

Family Portrait - All 5 of us - Daddy, Mommy, Jonathan, Jasmin and Dubbon

Jonathan insisted that his teddybear be in the picture...