July 11, 2004 - From KatieBear to KB:
Hi, Ms. Katie,
It's me; it's me . . . remember? . . . the little white Alaska Forget-Me-Not bear? Whew! You had me worried there for a minute. But you were just teasing, weren't you?
Ms. Mary left the computer on, so my new friends helped me get to the keyboard and here I am, writing to you. Patriot Bear SIR was in charge of getting me here. He is really good at getting us to do things. We're not really afraid of him, but don't tell him that 'cuz he would be embarrassed if he knew how much we loved him. He's a little scary at first when he looks at you and does that "HARRUMPH" and you aren't sure if he's going to eat you alive or not. And then he talks kind of gruff, too. New Bunny says Patriot Bear SIR is a grizzly bear on the outside (I didn't know grizzly bears were white!) and a pussy cat on the inside. I hope he can get me back on the bookshelf as easily as he got me off. Falling a little once or twice helped me get down, but I don't know if it's possible to fall back up there.
Millennium Bear is helping me with my spelling. He knows everything.
When we left Minneapolis, we went down to Iowa. That's so far away, Ms. Mary's cell phone wouldn't even work. I met Ms. Mary's sister and she tied all my blue ribbons back into neat little bows 'cuz I had gotten a little undone in all the traveling. Ms. Mary's mom and dad thought I was cute and said it was really nice of you to let Ms. Mary adopt me. They've seen all the stuffed ones on her bookshelf so they were telling me about Just Ducky and Humphrey and the baby reindeer and everybody. I was glad to hear something 'cuz I was a little scared about meeting them all.
It's pretty warm here in California. Ms. Mary keeps the fan running so I don't have to take my parka off. It's so pretty with the little blue flowers on it and the blue ribbons. There is a moose here in a plaid jacket and a bear in a flannel earflap cap and lots of my new friends are wearing scarves, so it's not just me that needs a fan.
I was kind of nervous when we got to the apartment, and I was worried about meeting so many new people all at once. I bet that's how some people feel when they go to a group for the first time, huh? I was lucky I got to sit on Ms. Mary's lap for that meeting. This time, Ms. Mary snuggled me up close to her and told me not to worry. The family here is awesome! Patiot Bear SIR did his HARRUMPH thing and my eyes got as big as saucers (Ms. Mary told me they did) and then everyone smiled at me and then Mr. Vegas (he's a purple zebra from Boston) introduced me to everyone. He's stayed by me while I get used to the new place and everybody in it. I'm the newest one on the bookshelf.
I miss you, and I think you are wonderful for helping me get here to Ms. Mary's place. I really like California. Will you come and visit me and Ms. Mary sometime? I don't think she'll make you sleep on top of the bookshelf like the rest of us. She says her sofa has a bed inside it. I haven't seen it, but I believe her.
I love you, Ms. Katie.