I was reminiscing this past weekend about a part of my childhood that took me back to the innocence and grandeur of growing up, between preschool and Gradeschool. And that was the Safety Patrol Children's program we had in the summer months when the Local Police Department would setup a 'traffic school' in a closed off parking lot or Tennis Court. Inside they had brought along wooden tracks or planks for streets along with 'Real Operating' Traffic Lights with all three colors, Just like the real deal down the street.
The course was set up like a lazy 8, and the peddle push cars were authentic in looks to Chevs or Fords of the day, and these peddle carts which we operated were monitored by Real Policemen ( off duty?)., for our driving skills .They gave this safety driving course to youngsters between the  ages of 5 to 8 only.

Those memories for me were like the 'Rosebud' of Charles Foster Kane and his Sleigh.

What are your rosebud memories ??

When I was tiny, 'way before I can recall any memories, I was given a small bear toy -- a panda. I guess he was called TedderBear, as a childish version of a teddy bear. Soon after, I began to love animation, and Walter Lanz's Andy Panda became a favorite, so TedderBear became Andy Panda. My bear looked little like either the cartoon or comic book Andy Panda, but they were both pandas, so that was that. At a point where my memories are extremely limited, I acquired a a companion for Andy, a grey elephant (one whose arms were flexible and he could hold things, unlike Andy's permanently outstretched arms). The elphant had a tag on his leg, and because I had yet to learn how to read, I asked what the elephant's name was, assuming it was written on the tag. My mother explained that the tag carried only the manufacturer's name. I didn't care, I wanted to know what it said on the tag. Knickerbocker. So the elephant was named Knickerbocker.

Long after I was out of the Air Force, just before my divorce (after 12 1/2 years of marriage and two children of my own), I found Andy Panda and Knickerbocker in a large cedar chest my mother had left with me when she and my stepdad moved to Arizona after he retired. I worked for a screen printer, whose clothing division had doll-sized baseball jerseys and caps. The only one that would fit was a St. Louis Cardinals set.

So:



... more than five decades of friendship.

Ouch... 

My stuffed cocker spaniel my grandfather bought the day I was born. His name was Brownie, and I lost him when I forgot about a storage shed I had years ago. I still pass through thrift and antique stores hoping that someday...

Bobb

i got a orange teddy bear my nan bought me when i was 8 weeks old, i still have it and its still in good nick too, my parents bought me a stuffer rabbit and dog too which i still have all named very originally  - Teddy, Rabbi, and doggy.

did have a monkey too but i eat that when i was about 6

My original G1 Jetfire, from the Transformers line. I loved that thing. I transformed him very carefully, so as to keep him pristine.

He was destroyed by a jealous step-sibling. Bastard.

My wife bought me a replacement, just because I mentioned it. Isn't she sweet?

I had a teddy bear who was yellow and suitably called "Yellow Ted".  He had porridge spilled on him and had to be washed.  My mother had to dry him ready for me to have at bedtime, and put him in the oven on a very low heat.  He suffered burns but nothing severe.  I still have him now (35 or so years on) and he is sporting a blue jumper knitted by my sister to cover up his injuries.