Monday, October 20, 2008

Toy Tag


Becky at Wonders Never Cease tagged anyone interested to post a picture of a favorite childhood toy. The only one I had handy is my chipmunk, Ritt-Rott the Second, or Ritty for short. No, Ritty is not ratty! Just very well loved. He was made by my mom to replace Ritt-Rott the First, who went everywhere with me, until he turned real and ran off with his chipmunk friends. Or so my mom told me.

Ritt-Rott the First was a bit of a daredevil. I remember the time we were driving somewhere, and he decided he could climb out the driver’s side window and return through my window in the back seat. Boy, did he underestimate how windy it is when you’re driving about fifty miles an hour down the road.

Believe it or not, that’s not how I lost him. My dad actually ran out into traffic to save him, although he did have some rather unhappy things to say about it. He used some interesting words that I later used to make up some interesting songs, which would have gotten me in trouble if anyone but my brothers had heard them. No, Ritt-Rott and I and other stuffed friends went on to have all kinds of adventures in the woods. I have to report that not all of my stuffed animal friends returned from those adventures.

Ritt-Rott the Second became my new best friend. He doesn’t look that much like his predecessor, but I admire my mom’s handiwork. My favorite features are the little teeth she made by melting pieces of plastic over the stove. His eyes used to be brighter, and his head stayed up better before gravity made his stuffing slide into his belly. Doesn’t that happen to everyone?

11 comments:

Brenda said...

what a great story...I love that Ritt-Rott one was so daring and aren't dads wonderful for what they will do for their little girls...

C.R. Evers said...

awwww . . . He does look very well loved and deservedly so! :0)

Christy

Kelly Polark said...

Gravity is working its magic on my body too! Ritt Rott looks like he spent a lot of time with you!

sruble said...

Ooh, he's so cute! And what a great story about the first Ritt-Rott! How devastating to lose him that way.

I had lots of stuffed animal friends, but all of them are at my parents house, so I can't take pictures.

Rena Jones said...

Great story! Ritt-Rott is adorable! I had to laugh when you mentioned Ritt-Rott the Second. My oldest daughter had this little teether toy called Green Bear when she was a baby. We lost it and couldn't find a replacement in green. We tried to give her Yellow Bear, which was exactly the same thing but not green. No go. She wouldn't have anything to do with it.

My six-yer-old son, Neil is sitting here with me looking at your artwork slideshow. He wants me to tell you, "I like your pictures!" :)

Adrienne said...

Brenda - considering the tire marks on Ritt-Rotts tail, I guess it was a heroic rescue!

Christy - He's had plenty of "operations" to prove it!

Kelly - Sigh. Gravity is not my friend...

Sruble - Oddly enough, I don't remember being devastated. I think it took me a while to notice he was missing!

Rena - How cute about the teether. I had to make a duplicate of my son's favorite toy that was discontinued - we were too afraid he'd lose it.

BTW, Neil made my day! :)

Kimbra Kasch said...

I love that your Mom said he turned real and ran away with his friends. What a great story and a wonderful Mom.

And, sadly, my stuffing has slid down too - but it's landed more in my thighs than my belly. Ritt Rott and Thunder Thighs, now there's a story.

Carrie Harris said...

How adorable. I like him even more with the sliding stuffing. We've got something in common now. :)

Suzie said...

What a good Daddy even with all the cursing

Rebecca Ramsey said...

Whoa! Ritt Rott #1 was quite the Crazy Chipmunk! What a wild man! He would have liked my kitty. She used to roll down the window all by herself. At first we thought she was considering a suicide jump, but then we realized she just thought it was fun!

What sweet parents you have!

Adrienne said...

Kim - Just like The Velveteen Rabbit!

Carrie - I'm just glad I'm not bursting at the seams, too.

Suzie - Oh, well, I guess some times it's called for...

Becky - That's funny! Then did she stick her head out the window like doggies do?