This story I am about to share with you has been a long time in the making. It took me over a year to figure out how to be able to put in words what I need to tell you.
You ask, how was that so?. ..Well, so the story begins.
I had a wonderful homecoming in Ft Bliss, El Paso TX. My new temporary family was waiting at the airport and all of the banners, flags, music and tears were so overwhelming.
After being checked in and getting discharged from the US Army I was free a Bear. I was so much more mature, beefer and ready to take on the world, with my new and improved attitude!
I will now wait for my next ride, home, back to Paula and Pat and all the kiddies AND the state of Illinois. Ms Nora, after a few days, was ready to head back to Illinois and resume her everyday routine till her next new adventure!
Here we go....all packed and ready to shove off......but, wait, where is she putting me? Oh NO! She has put me in the checked luggage. I just know something bad is going to happen, it always does....I hate being shoved in with all the unmentionables, the books, souvenirs, and clothes. OK, so I'll stop already, I am going home and that is all that counts, right?
The return flight wasn't that bad, I was warm and able to get some shut eye in the 3 plus hour flight home.
You see, I had already been in Rockford earlier that week on my return flight back from Afghanistan. It was amazing so many people, Soldiers and Veterans would show up at the Rockford International Airport to welcome us home, in the middle of the night. We were only there for a short refueling stop but, it was overwhelming......I was home...but, I hitched up my big boy panties (in other words my skivvies) and reboarded that big old plane to return back to base and reported back to Ft Bliss,
So we landed in the big city of Chicago, the luggage was gathered and off we go to catch the next bus back to Rockford. It was a rather bumpy ride thru the airport. One can only imagine being in a suitcase and wheeling over concert, bumps, curbs and the absolute worse is the people movers, they rumble, in my opinion, like an escalator all stretch out, like a bunch of rumble strips all across the airport. Just imagine that the next time you travel somewhere that has that convenience.
So there we were waiting at the bus depot. I was OK. I was warm, among all of the souvenirs and clothes. My last leg of this adventure!
Remember when I said something bad would happen because I wasn't riding up top with the rest of the passengers?
First stop. Clock Tower Inn. Several passengers disembarked from their hour long trip from O'Hare Airport but, it seemed that when we gave our luggage to the bus driver it was stored in the compartment with passengers getting off at the first stop Clock Tower and not the Bus Station on Walton Ave. Well, that doesn't seem to earth shaking.....the bus driver took it off the bus and I am sure the bus driver will put it back on the bus! Well, it didn't happen that way at all. Nope, someone else snagged that suitcase, the one with the gigantic, ugly, crocheted bow on it....now how could that be mistaken for someone else's luggage? I didn't have much recognition as to what was happening since I was stuck inside the suitcase and assuming that I was going home with Ms Nora....all is well, I guess you have figured out by now, that I was stolen.......
When Ms Nora arrived at the Bus Station on Walton Dr and went to retrieve her luggage it wasn't there. It took her a few minutes to try and figure out what had happen and when she did she reported the incident to the ticket agent and filed a police report. The Bus stationed refused to believe that something like this could happen. WELL, it did.....When Ms Nora called Paula the next day to tell her about what had happen she was devastated, not to mention the guys that he was deployed with. He travelled all the way to Afghanistan and back and here he gets back within 25 miles of home and goes missing.
When Paula heard the news she was overwhelmed with sadness.....but, she was glad that she only intrusted her friend to a "double" she did not send the original Gear Bear just for this reason, of him getting lost. Our lost Bear goes by the name of Louie Bear. He is from the same Gear Bear Family.
We have felt very reluctant to continue our Blog because, we did not want to mislead you and we felt that we needed to be truthful and share this story of' "Louie Bear's return home. We have searched everywhere for this little guy, the area surrounding the Bus Stop and at Clock Tower,the parks, Goodwills, garage sales.....and even trash cans. We are so hoping that he will show up again. He's not valuable but, he is important to our family and if anyone knows or has seen this little 9" Stuffed Bear hopefully still dressed in Army Fatigues please let us know.
So the adventures and stories will continue, but, with a heavy heart, and in hopes that we will find our little stolen Army Bear.
Sincerely Yours,
Gear Bear
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