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Farewell Old Friend

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This is a picture from the web of the little soft toy that I had for over 40 years

This is my toy now so it's finally time to say goodbye and get a new soft toy to take his place:-(

‘Cream Puff’ you were my faithful companion for many years I recall you were a birthday gift from an old school friend And I adored you from the moment I held you in my hands As a teenager I remember taking you with me to my first job in London You sat on my bedside table and were a constant reminder of home In 1989 I moved in with my fiancé and he loved you too He decided you would be a wonderful ‘guard dog’ for our car For 27 years you sat proudly on the dashboard of every vehicle we owned Over time you started to show signs of old age The sun tanned your skin and your once bright coat faded About five years ago disaster struck and your ‘brains’ burst out of your head I tried to perform surgery on you with my needle and thread But it was useless as you were so old and frail So we left you sitting quietly in the car enjoying your twilight years Yesterday tragedy struck as we were travelling a long a pretty country road I was gazing at the azure sea whilst my hubby was at the wheel Suddenly the next thing I knew you were sitting on my lap My hubby had picked you up and thrown you to me to see if I could help you I could see that there was nothing that could be done to save you Your aged skin had got so thin it had totally disintegrated Little wooden beads had burst out of your bottom and legs There was just a little pile of wooden beads where you once sat Tenderly I scooped you up and placed you in a plastic bag We then spent a long time picking up your insides piece by piece As they were scattered like ashes all over the front seats of the car Now I know the time has come to finally say adieu Goodbye Cream Puff A treasured companion for over 40 years You will be missed by us all 03~31~17

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Lim'Rik Flats

Date: 5/16/2017 9:34:00 AM

Wow! Hadda come see the rest of the story. Condolences and hugs ~ j

Leon Enriquez

Date: 4/3/2017 12:34:00 AM

Dear Jan: I have not been visiting the pages of any PoetrySoup member for a very long time. This morning, I happen to browse the pages of the poets I follow. And I came across your poem dedicated to your keepsake soft toy you lovingly called Cream Puff. What a sentimental soul you are! Nice, very nice. Here's a haiku moment for your Cream Puff memories: "Joy wears a face; Heart feels a touch; Feelings emerge" -- All my best wishes, Leon.

Jan Allison
Date: 4/3/2017 1:59:00 PM

Aww thanks for the visit and the haiku Leon - my hubby is so sad about the loss of our 'guard dog' I'm browsing the web to see if I can find a replacement, but the company ceased trading in about 2007 and i can't find one on e bay so today we got a couple of cuddly toys which we 'rescued' from a charity shop and hope one of them will look right where the little dog used to sit in the window by the drivers door:-) hugs Jan xx

Doug Vinson

Date: 4/1/2017 12:38:00 PM

"For over 40 years".... Oh Jan, yes indeed....

Jan Allison
Date: 4/1/2017 2:38:00 PM

Yes I had this soft toy for over 40 years and for the last 27 he has been guarding our car but now he is retired to live out his days on top of the bureau sealed in his plastic bag lol:-) hugs jan xx

Roy Pett

Date: 4/1/2017 5:18:00 AM

Beautiful though so sad, our personal possessions hold so much history and memories, so well written, Roy. :)

Jan Allison
Date: 4/1/2017 2:40:00 PM

You wouldn't think such an insignificant item could hold such importance but little cream puff has been there with me for many years:-) hugs Jan xx

Emile Pinet

Date: 3/31/2017 9:46:00 PM

This is imaginative, descriptive, and creative all rolled up into a beautiful poem. Your word choices and quiet charm make this a very sad yet enjoyable read. Emile.

Jan Allison
Date: 4/1/2017 2:03:00 AM

Thanks Emile:-) Its amazing how this cute little fella has been in our lives for so long and now old age has finally taken its toll and he is now going into semi retirement in his little plastic bag - hubby insists we keep him so he is now sat on the bureau!:-) hugs jan xx

Lynn Marie

Date: 3/31/2017 5:30:00 PM

It's incredible how attached we become to things that may seem insignificant yet have become a part of us by simply being there for so long. No matter how old or ragged we see the memories and happiness it's given us. I love how sentimental your words are. This is beautiful writing Jan :-) lynnxxx

Jan Allison
Date: 3/31/2017 5:42:00 PM

It really is amazing Lynn - you can see from the pic the poor dog looks like he has a quiff where the stuffing has come out and now the material on the body is so old it has disintegrated but we can't bear to part with him so he's now on the bureau in his bag. I do have another small soft toy who can go in the car but it's never going to be the same.:-( hugs jan xx

Darren White

Date: 3/31/2017 10:00:00 AM

Phew, what Chris and Tim said! And your reply to Tim. I could NEVER ever get rid of the one fluffy toy I have, how old, dirty, or broken it will become <3

Jan Allison
Date: 3/31/2017 10:33:00 AM

Thanks Darren having chatted with hubby we have decided that we are keeping him sealed in his little plastic bag but he will stay in the house and whichever one of us passes away first he will be cremated with us. Hubby and I are both being scattered in the same place:-) hugs Jan xx

Darren White
Date: 3/31/2017 10:01:00 AM

Just give him his little new friend, and they'll be happy til eternity :)

Chris Green

Date: 3/31/2017 8:51:00 AM

I read your reply to Tim and I wouldn't get rid of it either, regardless of what shape it is in. Funny how something like this can effect us when we sense an end in sight. Sad Jan but hang on to it forever.

Jan Allison
Date: 3/31/2017 10:36:00 AM

We are keeping him in the house in his little sealed bag - hubby is really sad its strange how you get so attached to something so much:-) hugs Jan xx

Anne-Lise Andresen

Date: 3/31/2017 8:43:00 AM

- A faithful friend for 40 years, is painful to say goodbye to - Many pleasant memories :) - Good luck in the contest, Jan - Happy weekend :) - hugs // Anne-Lise :)

Jan Allison
Date: 3/31/2017 10:41:00 AM

We are keeping him in the house in his little plastic bag as we cannot bear to part with him:-) we will get a new 'pet' for the car but he will always be thought of as our guard dog. i had him over 40 years:-) hugs Jan xx

Tim Smith

Date: 3/31/2017 8:21:00 AM

Some things we don't realize how much we care about them until they are gone.

Jan Allison
Date: 3/31/2017 8:28:00 AM

I had this soft toy for over 40 years and even when it was beyond repair when the head split we simply couldn't bear to part with it and left him in the corner on the dashboard where he always sat but now the fur has totally disintegrated so he is sitting in a sealed plastic bag BUT my hubby is so fond of him we are going to keep him in as he is - just a little thing but he is special to us both:-) hugs Jan xx