Don't underestimate bears

Don't underestimate bears. I mean, OBVIOUSLY not in the wild, I'm talking about the ones in books.

Today is Paddington Bear's 50th "birthday" (as anyone who used Google search today has already figured out). He and I go waaaaay back. I had the books, the bear, even played Paddington in the 2nd grade play. My dad used to make Paddington's hat "talk" to me before bed when I was in elementary school. For my birthday, my mom gave me the new book, and I'm pleased to report I enjoyed it as much as I thought I would.

Really, how can you go wrong with a children's book that starts with a bear "from Darkest Peru" showing up on a railway platform with a tag that says "Please look after this bear. Thank you."? Now, years later, the kid loves him too, as he should - they're very similar. As Paddington says, "Things happen to me. I'm that sort of bear".

Hug a bear today :-)