Raggedy Ann 'n' Andy ♡

Beaded by Moi… Hand-painted by Bri… Store-bought and always on display

If you follow along on CMI, thank you so much. You might recall that Aubs 'n' Gav decorated the tree for us, this year. Beaded versions of Raggedy Ann 'n' Andy were tucked away with extra ornaments. I exclaimed when I found them and Aubs wondered who "they" were…

"G'ma, who are Ann and Andy?"

"You really don't know, Honey?"

"Really."

And so I told her about her Daddy's special relationship with his Original Andy, handmade and gifted by Mom's and my dear friend, Lynn, most sadly departed way too soon. 

When each of the boys was born, Lynn gifted them the dolls. Christian liked his enough but preferred his bear, Oliver, to cuddle. Brian, however, loved his Andy, with whom he slept. Sadly, my Dad took ill when the boys were six and three. Although we tried to protect them from as much grief as possible, Andy became key to comforting Brian who clearly sensed that something was awry. That doll eventually became so fragile with wear, I had to put socks on him to hold in his stuffing… sewing him together was no longer an option.

In conversation one day, I mentioned this to beautiful Lynn. She surprised us with a newly created Andy doll to replace Original Andy. That never happened. Bri continued to love his first Andy. He could never be replaced.

"So you see, Aubs, before there were American Girl/Boy dolls, there were wonderful rag-dolls to love and cherish!"

Memories are made of this.