Bearables [antikvár]

The Bear-Human Connection Humans have a longstanding affinity for bears, maybe because bears, like humans, are built to be upright, at least part of the time. Because bears can stand up and look us in the eye, we tend to humanize them—pretend that they think our thoughts and talk our language. A young bear, fuzzy and vulnerable, has an almost mystical appeal for us, while the unpredictable power of an adult bear fills us with awe and trepidation. We dream about bears, good dreams and bad. We tell stories about bears (some turn into myths). We see bears in stars. We make bears into totems. We make bears into toys. Especially since the introduction of the teddy bear in 1902, inspired by President Theodore Roosevelt's bear cub, we have glossed over the true bearness of bears and made huggable facsimiles to give to our children—and ourselves. These little interpretations of bears, covered in plush or velveteen and filled with straw or cotton or foam, have a wonderful variety of winsome shapes and expressions. They have come to represent comfort and companionship. Sometimes a stuffed bear is called upon to temper a child's sadness or even to help fill a void of human love. As for real bears, we have a respectful fear of them when our trails cross theirs. We admire them for being flexible and, generally, for minding their own business.