Blue Heron Visions: Chapter 3: The Beanie Baby Story

This manuscript is both a memoir of sorts and a work of fiction. The stories and events included are based on my life experiences and memories but I have changed names, details, event sequences, and outcomes throughout the work.

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Chapter 3: The Beanie Baby Story

Thinking about magical experiences brought to mind what Elizabeth and Vincent called "The Beanie Baby Story." To this day, Elizabeth would repeat the refrain “Remember the Beanie Baby Story?” whenever she was sure that a situation was going to play out a certain way and Vincent disagreed with her.

The event happened several years ago when Vincent was visiting Elizabeth for the first time. Since her parents were deceased and the only older living relative was her eighty-eight-year-old Italian grandmother, Nonna, she wanted Vincent to meet her. So the couple loaded up her car and made the five-hour drive to visit Nonna.

The trip was full of new sights for Vincent and wonderful childhood memories for Elizabeth. Her parents would take the family each year to visit Nonno and Nonna in their home near majestic Mt. Shasta. She adored going there because she loved her grandparents so much and they felt the same toward her. She was their first grandchild, which had made her quite the favored child.

When Elizabeth and Vincent arrived, Nonna welcomed them. Unfortunately, she had experienced some health problems that year, resulting in open heart surgery. She had done surprisingly well but she still was having problems with falling. When she came out to greet them, she had two black eyes because she had fallen out of a friend's car on her face and broken her glasses. While her glasses were being repaired, she was borrowing glasses, which meant she wasn't seeing well at all. She was also carrying a cane. Yes, that's right—carrying a cane! She didn't really understand how to use it, so she just carried it everywhere she went.

On the second day of their stay, Elizabeth and Vincent went out for a walk just after supper. The summer weather was warm and lovely, the air fresh and clean. Elizabeth spent time showing Vincent places she remembered from her childhood. The town was tiny so it didn't take too long.

They decided to sit for a while in a small park that stretched along side the railroad station and tracks, facing the town's main street. As they approached a bench, they noticed a Beanie Baby toy, a small black and white dog. Elizabeth picked up the little dog and held it while they were talking about their visit, the town, her Nonna, and her memories.

After enjoying the quiet and picturesque scene, the couple decided to return to Nonna's house. Vincent told Elizabeth that she should take the Beanie Baby home with her. Anyone who knew Elizabeth would know that she would never do something like that. To take possession of that Beanie Baby would be a violation of the rules by which she lived her life. She told Vincent pointedly that it would be wrong for her to take it. Vincent replied that a child had left it behind, and perhaps the family had been visiting but had now departed. Someone else would surely find the little toy and take it home, so why shouldn't Elizabeth be the new owner. And that's when the magic started to flow.

Elizabeth looked at Vincent and said, "What if the family was visiting, but they just went across the street to have dinner? And during dinner, the child realizes he or she had left the precious toy on this bench in the park. And all during dinner, the child pushes and prods the parents to come and search for the toy. Finally, the mom or dad comes with the child to find the little dog because the toy is so very special to the child. When they arrive at the bench, the toy is gone! Imagine how sad the child would be. I would feel awful if that happened!" She set the little dog back on the bench where they had found it. Vincent shook his head and put forth his argument again, saying that it was more likely that the child had forgotten it and wouldn't be returning to reclaim the toy.

Just then, as the couple got ready to leave, they looked up and saw a woman walking toward them with a four- or five-year-old child's hand clasped in hers. The moment the child saw the little dog, she broke free from her mother and ran to the bench. Elizabeth handed her the precious toy. The little girl was ecstatic and hugged her special “friend.” The mother looked at Elizabeth and said, "I am so glad that the toy was still here. My daughter loves that little dog so much. What a very long night of distress, crying, and no sleep it would have been in the hotel without her favorite toy! Thank you for finding it for us." Mother and daughter went on their way, both happy that their search had ended favorably.

Elizabeth just looked at Vincent, whose astonishment gave way to words, "How did you know?"

Now that was magic!