I know, I haven’t posted much over the years. Primarily, I am busy. Really busy. Life is offering so much, and while many things are a lot of fun, there are also challenges — which is what makes life truly interesting.
I have been collecting Snuffles from Gund since 1997. That was when I bought my first larger brown Snuffles at FAO Schwarz in Chicago. He is still with me today. His name is “Pummelwummel,” and he is a 20-inch Snuffles.
(Pummelwummel has been with me for 29 years.)
I had the privilege of living in different countries. One of them was the United States, where I spent 14 years studying and working. It was one of the greatest times of my life. That is where I discovered Snuffles — and FAO Schwarz in New York and Chicago.
I think for many American children at the time, FAO Schwarz was a kind of fairy tale store. I know they closed many of their stores a long time ago, and I am not even sure if any still exist today. But for me, that first visit felt like heaven — the greatest toy store I had ever seen.
That brings me to my most loved and most cuddled Snuffles: “Chubby.”
Chubby joined me around the year 2000. He is known as the “Millennium Snuffles,” created by Gund specifically for the turn of the millennium. His silver-grey fur was incredibly soft. He is a 30-inch Snuffles — just perfect to cuddle.
I still cuddle him every morning. That is my ritual. My partner shares that same affection for him. Chubby is not only my Snuffles anymore; he has become part of our little family.
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(Chubby has been with me for 26 years. Despite not having a driver’s license, he loves to drive my car — and he is actually a very good driver. Zero accidents in 26 years. ?)
In 2009, when I left the United States, Chubby came with me. Like
all my most important memories, he crossed the ocean with me.
Some
things you don’t leave behind.
I know many people will think: what are you talking about — it is just a toy, a stuffed animal. And yes, that is true. But a stuffed animal can reflect childhood memories, family, and a sense of security.
Chubby also loves to travel.
Over the years, he has been to many places in the United States and Canada with me — including Chicago, Boston, Rhode Island, Washington, D.C., Cleveland, and Indiana — as well as many places across Europe: London, Paris, Geneva, Zurich, Amsterdam, Brussels, and Luxembourg.
Of course, he has traveled all over Germany, where I live now — including Munich, Cologne, Hamburg, Dresden, and Glashütte, where some of the finest German watches are made.
He has been to Vienna, attended a close friend’s wedding in Hungary, and traveled through Italy — including Lake Como and Milan.
So he has led quite a privileged life — and he enjoyed it.
Overall, Chubby has visited 11 countries with me over the years. You could call him a world traveler. He does not look like new anymore — but he has been deeply loved, and always will be.
Chubby is a very relaxed guy. He enjoys sitting in the sun and simply having a good time.
In a way, Chubby really embodies the unbearable lightness of being — and that is something I have learned from him.
Some of you may know the book The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera. It is well worth a read.
(Chubby chilling in the sun in the Black Forest)
Chubby still loves to spend sunny days in my garden. He is one happy camper, bringing a smile to everyone who meets him.
Looking back after all these years, I realize that Chubby has carried a small piece of my life with him.
A true companion does not necessarily change the big events of our lives. Sometimes, they are simply there. They are part of the quiet moments that nobody else sees.
Chubby was there during times of happiness, during travels to new places and new countries, during moments of change, and perhaps also during times when a little comfort was needed.
He has always been a loyal companion. He never asked for anything. He was simply there — bringing joy, warmth, and a smile.
And maybe that is the true value of the things we love: They do not become meaningful because they are rare or expensive. They become meaningful because they share a part of our journey with us.
