Day Twenty-Six: unhurried living, and why teddies are alive

I sat today in the coffee shop and read and read til my eyes were so tired of deciphering the squiggles on the pages that I couldn't read anymore. This last week has been testing. We had two essays to do, and though they're both done now, it was difficult adding two essays to the normal reading load. I didn't do much at all today, except for reading. I am beyond grateful that I found Waterstones. It has meant that I can settle down to work quickly and conveniently, and everything I need is right there. I get a student discount with my drink, and I always go for a Mocha because I can make coffee at home! So how the days usually stretch out is like so: I will wake up just before my alarm goes off, although today I woke up an hour before it went off! I have found that if I make my bed the moment I get out of it, I already feel as if I have accomplished something for the day, and I can move onto the next task satisfied with life. Making sure that Toby - my teddy -  is comfortable is always the last act of the bed-making. I set his head gently against the pillow so that he can get up easily if he wants to.

We were given Christmas presents when we were in Grade 0 at Bishopslea (when we were five), and I remember being so upset that I hadn't received a barbie, or colours, or something bright and colourful. Instead, I was the mildly disappointed owner of a book. I think I took it home and tried to "read" it, but since I couldn't really read yet, it ended up on the shelf and I didn't look at it again til I was a teenager. But when I did eventually get round to reading it, I realised what a special and perfect gift it had been. It was a book about teddy bears: their history, their types, their personalities. I can't remember what it's called, but it was something like 'A Collection of Teddies'. In it were stories and poems about teddies, and these are the lyrics to one of my favourite poems/songs:

"Teddy Bear Picnic"

If you go out in the woods today
You're sure of a big surprise.
If you go out in the woods today
You'd better go in disguise.
For every bear that ever there was
Will gather there for certain, because
Today's the day the teddy bears have their picnic.

If you go out in the woods today,
You'd better not go alone.
It's lovely out in the woods today,
But safer to stay at home.
For every bear that ever there was
Will gather there for certain, because
Today's the day the teddy bears have their picnic.

Picnic time for teddy bears,
The little teddy bears are having a lovely time today.
Watch them, catch them unawares,
And see them picnic on their holiday.
See them gaily dance about.
They love to play and shout.
And never have any cares.
At six o'clock their mommies and daddies
Will take them home to bed
Because they're tired little teddy bears.

Here's a wonderful link to Bing Crosby singing it: Teddy Bear Picnic

The thought of teddy bears being alive and going exploring has captivated my imagination since I can remember, and this book had the beautiful illustrations and stories to grow those creative thoughts. There was also a story about the teddy bear who was discovered every morning with a new scratch or tear or bandage, and it was because he defended his little child every night. The point of all this is to show you why I make sure that Toby is always comfortable and can see everything that's going on. He is old now - 18 to be exact - and I'm sure it gives him some extra time to react and prepare if he has a good vantage point. Also, if he's been looking after me all these years, I think he deserves to be comfortable.

After I have made my bed, I choose what to wear and get dressed, and then I go through to the kitchen and make some breakfast, depending on what I feel like. Today I had yoghurt and strawberries and bananas and oats. Then I take my half-packed bag and finish packing it, and within an hour of getting up, I try to be out the flat. I am going to try and get up earlier tomorrow so that I can miss the crowded train! I know which platform I have to go to now too, which is reassuring when you're in a hurry. When I get to class, I either go to the kitchen and snag the beautiful yellow cup before anyone else does, or I just sit and hope that no one feels like a yellow cup! If I was in time to get the yellow cup, then I pour half the tea from my flask into it (saving the half for later).

After class, I head straight to Waterstones and order my student-discounted Mocha, and then I sit at the broad table with my book and my Mocha, and while I wait for it to cool, I eat my packed lunch. I've been in a yellow mood recently, sunny. I have a golden-covered book and I love the yellow cup. And the sunshine today was just beautiful. I try to do about an hour of work downstairs in the coffee shop, and when I'm tired of sitting there, I pack up and move upstairs, into the bookstore.

There I stay until I get hungry and have to leave to make supper.

I think that the most important message I want to send fluttering through the internet to you is that time will always keep moving, but you can enjoy every moment and feel every sunbeam of every second if you choose to. In drenching each moment in delight, you can turn each second into a lingering twirl of honey. If you don't like honey, I'm sure you can think of something equally beautiful.

So that's all for today.

I hope you enjoyed :)