Bubba: A photographic essay

It has been almost 3 1/2 years since Bubba Grizz came into our lives. He arrived into Camille's care on Christmas Eve, 2004, when Camille was a tender 5 1/2 months old. Though Camille and Bubba were nearly exactly the same size at the time, she did have a bit on him in terms of weight, as we all know that muscle weighs more than fluff.



Bubba was actually shipped from Lebanon, PA from Uncle Tim, who thought that Camille needed a bear to tote around after her in her young life. Uncle Tim went to the Boyd's Bear Barn, the home of Boyds Bears, in Gettysburg, PA to find a match for Camille.



It has proved to be a match made in heaven. For any of the rest of you who have ever heard or read the story of the Velveteen Rabbit, you will understand me when I say that Bubba is on his way to "Realness." He already has a scar from being stitched up in the back, he is asked for by name, and he is talked to as if a person.



I have to admit that I feared this day would never come. Visually impaired children notoriously have delays in their pretend play skills. It is suggested that this is because most children pretend play because they see things happening visually around them and translate this into their play. Obviously if the visual input is missing, it can take longer for pretend play to occur.

However, once again, Camille has risen to the occasion as evidenced by the following conversation stream which I witnessed as an outsider.





"Hi, Bubba!! Would you like me to hold you up in the air?"


"Here, Bubba. Sit right next to me on my right side. It is time to read a story."



"Bubba, we are going to read "Give me Grace." Okay, let's open the book."

"Bubba, it is time to wake up, okay? Camille is reading you "Give me Grace."

"Bubba is holding the book!"

"Smile, Bubba. Mommy is taking a picture."

"Here, Bubba. Come sit right here on my lap."

"Bubba's hair is dry."

"Bubba, you can play Jumping Beans after we read the book."

"Okay...one...two....three....Jumping beans, jumping beans, jumping jumping jumping beans!!"

"Here, Bubba. Would you like me to carry you?"

Needless to say, Uncle Tim's wish has come true. Camille has a forever friend in Bubba Grizz.