Tale of Two Bunnies
I was born in the late sixties. When I was a newborn, my mom made a stuffed bunny of white furry fabric. She embroidered a small face, and planned stout arms and legs that could easily be held on to for comfort. “Bummy” became my closest companion. When I was upset or falling asleep, I would “wraggle” Bummy’s arm. He went everywhere with us: Canada, California, the Bahamas, and even London.
When I was four and half years old, tragedy struck. As we got off the plane in our home airport (Rochester, New York), Bummy slipped between the seat and the wall of the plane. We were tired, our arms were full, and no one really noticed the little rabbit was gone. My parents called the airport to try and find the lost companion, but to no avail. My mom made an identical replacement out of the same fabric, but it never took. Security rabbits simply can’t be replaced. No rabbit could ever replace Bummy.
But time has a funny way of twisting your expectations. At the beginning of this new century, my second daughter was born. Perhaps it’s genetics, but what animal did she imprint on for security? A rabbit! It was just an average, store-bought, three-dimensional stuffed animal (Bummy was more like a fat shadow), but from the moment Logan saw that rabbit, it was true love. It was a birthday gift from a couple of boys in her Montessori preschool and their mom, “Mama Yoga,” who taught yoga there. Logan adored Mama Yoga and that made the rabbit even more special. She eventually named it ‘Mimzy.’
For years, Mimzy went everywhere with us. I remember Bummy and his tragic loss, so we worked to devise special systems for keeping Mimzy safe. Our favorite system is a luggage tag. We put Logan’s name and my cell phone on it. If Mimzy were to be left anywhere in a plane or airport, that tag will alert folks that this is no ordinary rabbit. For added security, my husband usually carries Mimzy on the top of his carry on. This method puts an adult in charge, and also provides cushioning for the camera. My husband never zips up his carry on without first squeezing in the rabbit.
Mimzy is part of our family now. She gets photographed when she travels, much like that famous garden gnome. To date, Mimzy has been to approximately 12 countries and at least 20 states. She was once left in a cabin in Montana, and we had to drive back several hours to find her. It was worth it. That rabbit holds the memories of so many family adventures.
Mimzy no longer goes absolutely everywhere with Logan. Dirty, dusty horse camp? Mimzy stayed home. But international trips? Mimzy would be devastated to get left behind. She recently enjoyed a return trip to Vienna, with a side trip to The Czech Republic. I had to stay on for a week without the kids to finish a work project, and Mimzy stayed with me to keep me company. Going through airport security, it was just me, my laptop, and a stuffed rabbit. Almost like old times!
Security has changed over the years, but the need for security animals has not. They will always be part of our family’s life. If either of my girls have children one day, you can only imagine what this proud Grandma will buy for the baby shower. And a pile of luggage tags in loving memory of Bummy and Mimzy!
Ashley Steel and husband Bill Richards are the co-authors of “Family on the Loose: The Art of Traveling with Kids” and their travel blog, Family on the Loose.
