Valentine’s Bears

Text & Photo by Miki de Goodaboom

I live in Spain. Here is Teddy Bear culture, unfortunately, not developed at all. You can find some in the toy shops, of course, but even there, they are rather rare. In the meanwhile, due to the increasing number of English tourists and residents, you can see sometimes Teddy Bears appearing in charity shops.

And yet: in the town where I am right now, Benidorm, I have seen the most beautiful Teddy Bear setting ever! To compensate the economic effects and the sadness of Covid, the town hall has organised a context among shops, bars, hotels, etc, for the best Valentine decoration, under the motto “Benidorm Te Espera” (Benidorm is waiting for you). Even closed businesses can participate… what most of them are these days!

Each participant receives 500 euros, and the first 3 winners will win a nice amount too. 3000 businesses have subscribed, with the result that thousands and thousands of red hearts and love words are beating all around Benidorm. I have to say: you like Valentines or not, this is beautifully uplifting the mood.

I could not believe my eyes as I saw that cafe – Cafeteria Uliana, Avda Mediterraneo- decoration. At the 4 coloured tables by the window are sitting big Teddy bears, little ones too, all having coffee, tea, cava even, with all kind of yummy pastries, all served in beautiful dishes. It really looks like a cafe exclusively fir Teddy Bears, and the bears seem to have such fun and enjoying it so much!

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Teddy Corona

By Teddy Corona (Text) and Miki de Goodaboom (Illustration)

My name is Corona…

No , please, don’t run away, I am not that horrible virus that hurts so many lovely people right now: I am a kind Teddy Bear that would not hurt anybody in the world.
You know, before all that, Corona was a beautiful word, it means “crown”  in a very old language.  So, you see, that was before that virus was even born, it has just stolen the name!

So yes, my parents decided to call me Corona. They said it was a very tough decision, but they said  it was the right thing to do. Many people will think it is heartless to call me that way.

But…

My Dad adopted me in England as he was there last time to do music, and until the last moment, they all thought he could never come back home to Spain, because of the virus. The whole family thought that he and Miki and Truffle and all the other bears, they would never see each other again. They were SO sad. But then he managed taking a last plane, and to come back, and we were all reunited and happy.
At home I was presented to everybody. I had no name yet, and I had no clothes. They all together decided I should be called Corona, to never forget what it means to be together with the people one loves and to never take it for granted.
Then my new brother Truffle gave me his most beautiful shirt. I am smaller than him, so it looks like a dress on me, and all said I look so pretty. He had no crown, but he gave me a head band with a sparkling red heart and put it around my head, a bit like a crown, and all said I look like a queen.
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My new Mom Miki announced  that she was taking me, as a special guest, in her “Inspirational Teddies” Group. I don’t really what that word means, it is long and complicated and sounds important, but I feel it is a big honour. She says all people and bears will look up to me, because I will be inspiration for them, because I have written “SMILE”  all over me, and “LOVE” around my head. This is the most important thing ever, she says!

I hope you understand now… and me, I am very proud of my name.

Corona S

(Prints of all sorts are available. Click on the painting to go to Miki de Goodaboom’s shop online)