Now and Then We Wonder Who the Real Men Are

These are some of the most important guys in my life. They mostly live on shelves in my closets behind hoodies and under dozens of tote bags that nobody’s ever going to use. But here they still are, ever since forever ago.

The one on the left has been mine since I was able to stand on both feet and look him right in the eye. He has never had a name. Everyone’s tried to name him but nothing has stuck. I don’t even remember what some of the proposals were. Littlefoot, on the other hand, came with his name from Grandma Barb on Christmas. He has a hole in his right heel, where I used to hide notes. This was before Livejournal and the concept of “friends only” existed. Before there was such thing as a private Twitter, there were folded notes inside Littlefoot’s little foot.

Bean, which is short for Refried Bean, was a midnight K-mart purchase when I was a bit unstable in 2002 or so. He’s been lots of places with me. Cat in the passenger seat. Travels most everywhere I go, and served as my microphone cover for several years in place of a proper pop guard. All of my songs on iTunes were recorded through Bean. Poe recorded some vocals through him. The owl is much more recent, a gift from Kathy. But he’s the only one that has the privilege of sleeping in bed with me every night. Someone once tried to name him Hootie but I had none of that shit.

And then there are the gossipy gay Totoros. Can’t shut them up long enough to take a decent picture.

11 Comments to Now and Then We Wonder Who the Real Men Are

by Mel

On August 1, 2008 at 6:45 am

I loooved the Land Before Time movies when I was little. When I was three I got a Chomper plush that I still sleep with. And that owl is adorable.
by iona

On August 1, 2008 at 3:43 pm

if i didn’t have reason to love you before – I definitely love you now.
by Catherine

On August 1, 2008 at 5:52 pm

AWWWWW…..they’re adorable. Real men have childhood stuffed animals stowed away in their closets.
by nicole

On August 1, 2008 at 7:15 pm

hahahahahaha
littlefoot, my god…memories
also – i think that owl once cursed/blessed me to have another child…
by Trina

On August 3, 2008 at 11:33 pm

I think this is my favorite post of yours since the one where you came home to find the cat and dog not speaking to each other.
by Sarah

On August 4, 2008 at 2:45 am

wtff with this no updating for two days
by anna banana

On August 6, 2008 at 8:09 pm

OMG TOTORO IS THUPA GHEY! i am so glad it’s been realized and documented
by kendradradra

On August 10, 2008 at 8:49 pm

Aww!
I have those same Totoros, by the way, only one turned greenish because of my stupid green pants.
by Nina

On August 15, 2008 at 1:19 pm

Best stuffed animals ever (especially since Totoros are magically Asian and amazing). As for the owl, I feel like I’m the kind of person who would’ve tried renaming it Hootle. Maybe it was me? If so, oops.
by michelle

On August 24, 2008 at 6:26 am

AAH i have that owl too brad! i was hugging it and suddenly i scrolled down and my eyes nearly popped out when i saw the picture of it in your post ><
i sleep with it every night too (:
and mine is called Dean Michael Sinatra (really)
mine was a gift too. from my uncle for happy random day.
by Julia

On January 14, 2009 at 9:05 am

Can I introduce No Name bear to Grunty? http://farm1.static.flickr.com/141/347744774_136de6feac_b.jpg