Super Bear

Bears are powerful, dangerous animals. They also make the most popular stuffed animal.

What if, turning the real bear into cuddly stuffed toys is a way for us to distance ourselves from a scary part of nature that is too much to handle in the raw form? Bears can't be domesticated like horses, nor can they be turned into pets like dogs and cats. The only way to approach them safely is to take their shape, stuff them with soft material and turn them into children's toys.

I was very pleased with this line of thought, and was convinced I was onto something profound. I even named the phenomenon, the cuddlification of nature.

However, right then, my husband walked by and said, "No. Bear cubs are cute. They have the same body proportions as human babies. We are just attracted to that, period."

Grrrr. But I still think there's something very special about bears. Otherwise, I can't be so attached to mine.