Teddy Bear charm There was a time when owning a teddy bear felt like owning a piece of magic. For many of us growing up, a soft, huggable teddy wasn’t just a toy, it was a dream. Not everyone had one, and that made it even more special. The lucky few who did were quietly admired, while the rest of us made do with tiny teddy keychains, pretending they were just as comforting. Most childhoods, including mine, were filled with plastic toys. The ones from local fairs and carnivals were the most common, bright, attractive, and exciting at first, but heartbreakingly short-lived. Made of soft plastic, they would break within weeks, sometimes even days. Yet, for that brief time, they meant everything. Then came the sturdier toys—the hard plastic dolls. Some were small and childlike, others taller and more “grown-up.” We naturally gravitated toward the smaller ones, perhaps because we saw ourselves in them, before eventually moving on to the bigger ones as we grew. And ...