Travels with Moo

In summer 2023, I put a reminder in my phone for Christmas 2023 to look for a small journal in the attic over the Christmas holiday when I would be visiting my family. I was prompted by a memory from childhood. The memory was hazy, but I saw myself in the library with my classmates at my elementary school and we were going through a box of stuffed animals that had just completed a six-month journey. Some of the animals went around the United States and some of them went around the world. The memory was a brief flash. The more I thought about it, the more elusive it was.

Christmas came around and it was decided it would be too difficult to look for something that small among the other boxes in storage. But my mom was planning to clear out the attic next year. I would have to wait.

While I waited, I focused on the memory. More pieces started coming together. The memory started with a journal. In Summer 2023, I had bought a small Moleskine journal to bring to Germany and France later that autumn. It was there I would record my daily activities. When I returned, it was filled with observations and ticket stubs and museum flyers. Keeping that journal was inspired by Goethe and his book, Italian Journey. When I bought the Moleskine over the summer, I remembered being in the library with my classmates. Like the memory was shaken loose from my subconscious. A flash of déjà vu washed over me. It was then I saved the reminder in my phone.

The memory got clearer. I remember the teddy bear I chose for the trip. I had named it Moo. It was an old brown bear that had belonged to one of my brothers. The nose had been chewed off by one of our dogs and a narrow strand of stuffing had followed the nose when it had been pulled off. I remember a black fanny pack clipped around its neck. Inside the fanny pack was a journal that was about the size of a postcard. I also remember something about New York City.

The memory was clearly meaningful for me. But since I didn’t have the bear or the journal, I wasn’t sure it was real. Was it something I imagined? Some mixed-up dream? My mom vaguely remembered the details. My brothers, who were a few years behind me in school, did not remember.

I visited California for Christmas this year. My mom and my brothers had gone through the attic. She found the journal and she found the teddy bear. I was finally going to get to the bottom of this mystery.

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We did a lot of creative projects in elementary school. We decorated our classrooms for the holidays. We made Halloween decorations. We created Christmas ornaments. The whole school would go to the multi-purpose room for an assembly to sing Christmas carols. A substitute teacher who rotated around the school district taught us fine arts four times a year. Our paintings were always displayed in the hallways on a corkboard behind a glass display. We did book reports where we drew pictures to accompany what we wrote. But I think this teddy bear project was the most creative. Here is what we did.

The journey starts on February 17, 1998. I am nine years old, and my picture is taken in front of the big pine tree between the Primary Building and the Roundhouse. I am holding my teddy bear with his fanny pack strapped around his waist. The pine tree in the photo is no longer standing but it was an iconic piece of the school. I remember the tree was unique in that the branches had been shaped so that you could walk inside it. It was like it was enveloped by a thin blanket of pine needles. Inside there were plant stands with plants and flowers in small pots. The tree was always decorated with lights for Christmas. We would take our class photos in front of the tree as well. It would make sense the journey would start in front of this tree. The tree was like a classmate of ours. It was one of our friends.

In the fanny pack around Moo’s neck is a journal we made from index cards, laminated black construction paper, and black plastic ring binding. It is about the size of a postcard. On the first page of the journal is the picture of me and Moo in front of our friend.

On the first index card is a page of typed out instructions. It reads:

Dear Friend,

Please sign my journal. Include places I’ve been and sights I’ve seen. A souvenir, or best yet a photo of you and me together would be wonderful! The students back in California will be tracking my journey on a classroom map. PLEASE SEND MY OWNER A POSTCARD OR LETTER SO THAT THEY WILL KNOW WHERE I HAVE TRAVELED.

My only form of transportation is from person to person, so please pass me on.

Sincerely,

Moo

P.S. I NEED TO BE SENT HOME BY June 1, 1998. MY RETURN ADDRESS IS ON MY TRAVEL TAG AROUND MY NECK.

In addition to the English instructions, we provided instructions in Spanish and French and a personalized letter from me. The personalized letter reads:

Hi,

My name is Ryan. I like to watch cartoons. I like to do geography. Please take good care of my bear and please try to write back or write in my bear’s journal. I also like to go to school and learn!

Sincerely,

Ryan

After the personalized letter, there are journal entries documenting Moo’s journey across the United States, as told by him and his travel companions. The journey starts on February 26, 1998.

I left Chico on 2/26 and traveled in a cool Camero up to Chester. I helped Karen pack up to move to Utah. She had a ton of boxes! We left on March 2^nd very early in the morning. It was so early that it was still dark. The sun hadn’t even woke up yet. Well, we drove and drove through Reno and across the state of Nevada. We only stopped 2 times. I got sick and tired of riding in the car! We got to Salt Lake City that evening about 5pm (4 California time). We stayed at one apartment for one week then moved everything to another where I have been since. Boy, they sure do move around! I am excited to see where I land next. Having fun in Utah! See you soon. – Moo

I helped Brian open up a new business in Salt Lake City. Here is a picture of some of his new employees. We had lots of fun! They said I should go and visit New York. I’ll miss the mountains in Utah.

Moo

April 11, 1998

Dear Ryan,

Moo arrived in New York City today.

Boy did he look cramped in the box and looked delighted when I took him out to enjoy the warm spring air.

Moo helped Josh with his last week of school before finals. He goes to Columbia University in their Graduate School Business Program. Moo did outstanding when the professor called on him to ask questions about economics. Moo is a bright bear.

Moo also rode on the subways when he went with Kristen to work in Queens. He helped her work with the inner-city teens playing basketball and other games. Moo has quite a dunk shot! 😊 This city is so big, with lots to do—walking through Central Park, and visiting the Statue of Liberty, The Empire State Building, going to Times Square Church—maybe even hitting a Broadway Show.

Lots to do, so little time—We must go so we can get our fill of NYC—The Big Apple.

See you later Ryan –

From Moo (and his new friends in NYC 😊)

Hola Ryan:

Me llamo Dalys soy de Panama, Sur America. Moo y yo nos hemos divertido mucho. Fuimos al Canal de Panama y Moo casi se cae en las llaves del canal. Moo se bronzeo en el Rio Gatun. Moo comio sao y tomo jugo de marañon. Hizo mucho calor mientras viajabamos. Moo me dijo que tu eres un muchacho muy divertido. Gracias por compartir Moo conmigo. Espero que pronto te puedas reunir otra vez con Moo.

Translation via Google Translate:

(My name is Dalys, I am from Panama, South America. Moo and I had a lot of fun. We went to the Panama Canal and Moo almost fell into the canal keys. Moo tanned himself in the Gatun River. Moo ate sao and drank cashew juice. It was very hot while we were traveling. Moo told me that you’re a very funny boy. Thank you for sharing Moo with me. I hope you can meet Moo again soon.)

Hello Ryan

Moo and I had so much fun hanging out in the woods with some of my friends like Piglet, Tigger, Rabbit, Eeyore, and Owl. Can you guess what famous cartoon character I am? Well if not, hi I’m Winnie the Pooh and I would like to say hello to you. Moo is one of the most fun teddy bears I have ever hung out with. I read your entry and it said you like to watch cartoons so I hope you watch my cartoon “THE WONDERFUL ADVENTURES OF WINNIE THE POOH”. Moo went on one of my adventures and he enjoyed it. Just ask him and he will tell you. Well I will pass him on for you with all the best of luck on your project from the Winnie the Pooh Crew.

Love

Winnie the Pooh

Moo and I took a week trip to Canada!

It was so much fun. He kept me company during the 7 hour bus ride. We saw so many beautiful things! Waterfalls, creeks, springs, farms, and horsies! We stayed in Toronto for about 9 days. Moo even attended a wedding with me. We danced the night away at the reception. We saw the C+N Tower and Niagara Falls. Moo kept me company all the way to Canada and back to New York. I wish I could keep Moo but he has to move on!

I’ll miss you Moo

Rashim

NYC 4/21/98

Watz ↑ Ryan!

We took Moo to the Mets game last week. We dressed him up in a mock Mets uniform and a Mets cap. While watching the game, we paraded around the stadium along with posters and signs cheering up the crowd. We also tried to get on TV but unfortunately we weren’t lucky enough. However, we had a lot of fun at the game. We also got to do the wave!

See ya later

The Peanut Gallery

Moo and I went to look at colleges in upstate New York. Moo told me he wants to study acting in college. He wants to be a big, famous movie start and win an Academy Award. Moo and I also went to the movies. We saw Object of My Affection. Moo and I both agreed it was a great movie. We also went shopping together. He helped me pick out a prom dress. Moo is a wonderful bear and I’m glad I had the opportunity to meet and get to know him.

❤️

Susie Q

Hi there Ryan –

Moo is enjoying colorful Colorado! He has had fun the last 2 weeks with his new friends Courtland age 4 and Mickenzie age 3. We took Moo to Pueblo State Lake for a weekend of fun, water skiing and boating. We spent 3 days there camping. We will be going to Lowland next Sat and Sun for some more camping. We will miss Moo. It has been fun having him around 😊 See ya soon ❤️ Courtland + Kiki + Moo

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Moo was gone for three months. He drove from Chico, which is in California’s Central Valley, up to Chester, which is in the Sierra Nevada. From Chester he continued on to Reno, which is on the other side of the Sierra Nevada near the California/Nevada border. From Reno he made the long trek across the salt flats of Nevada to Salt Lake City. He spent some time in Salt Lake City before he ended up in New York City. It isn’t known how he got there but I would venture a guess he also drove. He spent time in New York City in class at Columbia University in Manhattan and working with kids in Queens. He saw a lot of the famous sights in New York City. Then he took a trip to Panama and went through the Panama Canal. I thought this entry was unique in that it was written entirely in Spanish. Next, he spent some fictional time with Winnie the Pooh, which I thought was a creative addition and captured the spirit of the project perfectly. Moo was on an adventure and Winnie the Pooh is synonymous with adventures. Back in New York City, he then took a bus trip to Canada and spent nine days in Toronto and Niagara Falls. When he returned to New York City, he went to a Mets game in Queens. Then he went looking at colleges in Upstate New York. I loved that this entry was from Susie Q. When I was a kid, there was a movie with that name that played on Disney Channel that starred Amy Jo Johnson, who was famous as the Pink Ranger on Power Rangers. Her character was from the 1950s and she wore a distinctive pink prom dress. In this entry, they went to look at some colleges, went to the movies, and then looked for a prom dress. I assumed she was channeling that character in some way. I loved it. Like Winnie the Pooh’s entry, I think her entry was creative and captured the spirit of the project. And then finally, Moo ended up camping in Colorado. This was the last entry and so it is assumed he was shipped back to Chico from Colorado.

Mapping it out, he traveled approximately 7,000 miles over land. New York City is 2,200 air miles from Panama. Assuming he flew round trip with Dalys it would be approximately 4,400 air miles. He traveled across the United States and spanned multiple time zones. He also went to two different countries. To do all this in three months is extraordinary.

Each entry was perfect. I especially loved the handwriting. Handwriting is an extension of our personality. I remember as a kid I could identify my classmates by their handwriting. Even though I don’t know the people who wrote these entries, I somehow feel like I know who they are based on what they wrote and the way they wrote it. Each person took the time to leave a heartfelt note, and I could feel their enthusiasm from participating in the project. They shared part of their day with someone they’ve never met before, and they seemed to genuinely enjoy doing so. I feel a sense of connectedness and community with them.

The point of school is to open the student’s mind to as many subjects as possible. It is hoped that the student will find something in one of these subjects that resonates with them. Usually, the subject resonates more deeply when it is attached to a goal or a real-world application. Something to inspire the student to pursue the subject further. My assumption is that this project was attached to a geography lesson. The instructions alluded to it when it stated that we would be following the teddy bear on a map. I also alluded to it in my letter when I said I liked geography. To be fair, I liked a lot of subjects in school, but me mentioning it was most likely not a coincidence. I am grateful to my elementary school teachers and principals for putting together a project like this. It was so simple, but it had a profound impact on me. This blog is a testament to that. Here I am sharing experiences with people. Not because I have to, but because I genuinely enjoy doing so.