We have recently had a very happy ending in our home.
On a pack trip in the Colorado Rockies Mr. Ben had his own backpack. In it he kept his favorite stuffed animal, Mana, a not-so-blue-anymore elephant that he’s had since birth, some books, cars and a water bottle.
After three days in the woods we had all walked back to the trailhead where Ben made a bee-line for the bushes to have a big-boy tinkle. Unfortunately he was distracted from picking up his back-pack by the appearance of a marmot peeking from behind the tires of one of the parked cars. After the whole group of 6 adults and 2 kids had enjoyed the marmot, tinkled (in the potty) and loaded our packs, we all bounced out down the dirt road towards Steamboat Springs.
Three hours later we all realized that Ben’s pack wasn’t in either of the two vehicles. One of the ways that I calmed Ben down was to speculate that the marmot may have already befriended Mana and that the two of them were most likely enjoying a tea in the marmot’s den.
A week later Mana showed up – the kind woman who ran the nearby Trapper’s Lake Lodge had driven up to the parking lot, found the pack in the bushes and mailed Mana to us. And today, Mr. Marmot, who has already been dubbed “Bean Bag” by Ben, mailed himself to his new friend Mana. Ben said, “It’s just like the song, ‘Mail Myself To You’!” So tonight when we walked down to our local hangout, Ray’s Deli to watch Open Mic Night, Ben’s sweet friend Judy played him that very song, substituting a word or two to match Ben’s happy ending.
Being Four is Magic!
