March 1, 2005 - From Ms. Mary to SJ:
Got a correction on the name. After further conversation with Ranger and then with the rest of the menagerie, the name issue has been resolved. He started out as Ranger, but being so young, he was always referred to as Ranger Junior. That was a bit awkward, so the name was switched around and he became Junior Ranger. (I didn't hear the "Junior" when he told me his name.) The menagerie asked him if they could call him "J.R." for short -- not because he IS short, but because his whole name is quite a mouthful to say -- and he said he kind of liked the sound of J.R. When I get home tonight, he will tell me if it feels good and he wants to keep it.
In the meantime, I have promised to see if I can find a small compass and other ranger accessories for the little pockets on his vest.
Oh, and the Vermont bears have asked me to tell you that their shipping boxes had air holes, so you might consider poking a hole in the next box you ship a bear in. And -- if you really want to make the bear happy -- you could mark the head end of the box "This side UP."