The Bear Who Almost Didn't Make It Here

Ava has been patiently waiting for a package to arrive from my dad and stepmother - they bought her a Build-a-Bear that she picked out online for her birthday and I finally got a notice from the post office that it arrived the other day. The kids were in camp for the week so I was busy taking advantage of my free time and getting lots of errands done, happily without dragging the kids around with me. I went to the post office to pick up the package, and while I was waiting at the window I noticed a pair of Jack's sunglasses behind the counter. I realized he must have left them there the last time they were there - I tried telling the woman helping me that they were mine and we left them there last time, but she didn't speak any English. Luckily the woman in line behind me understood what I was trying to tell her so she translated and the post office woman handed over the sunglasses and also one of his little toys he had with him. I guess he isn't too attached to them because he didn't even notice they were missing. After the post office I went next door to the ATM to get some money because I had to then go to the dry cleaners to drop off Mike's shirts and they only take cash. After I got the shirts I went home and noticed how it only took me about a half an hour to get all that done and back to my house. I started getting dinner ready and the kids got home from camp (one of the American moms I met lives near us so I have been bringing her son in the morning and she drops the kids off for me). I was so excited to tell Ava that her Build-A-Bear had arrived - and then it dawned on me, where did I put the box??? I ran through the house - it wasn't in the hallway or in the kitchen or on the dining room table where I usually drop things when I come in - I frantically ran out to the car and ripped the doors and the trunk open - NOTHING! I started to panic - when I got distracted by finding Jack's things did I forget the take the box with me when I left the post office?? Or worse yet, did I leave it on the roof of the car or something?? Oh, how could I possibly not remember what I did with it, it was a really big box! I didn't know how I was going to tell my dad that I lost it either. I went back into the house and gathered the kids up (and the last thing they wanted to do was head back out after they just walked in the door), shuffled them into the car and then went back to the post office. Unfortunately the same woman who gave me the package wasn't working anymore, so I waited in line and immediately asked her if she knew English (I usually just hand over my package ticket) - of course she didn't. I didn't know how I was going to explain what had happened. She called an older woman out from out back that seemed to understand what I was saying but was speaking to me in Polish, something about 'Heller' then pointing outside. I said yes, the package was from Heller - yes you know what I am talking about, so where is the package?  There was an old man standing behind me watching all this and seemed to be following what was going on. I turned to him for help, asking him if he spoke English but he said no, French. When the woman kept pointing outside I asked him if she knew what she was saying and he said 'bank!' and I was like, bank, bank what does that mean?? And then, DOH!!! of course, I left the package at the ATM when I took money out!! I ran next door to the bank (while all of the Polish people in the post office just shook their heads at me like I was an idiot). Thankfully the ATM was inside the front door of the bank and not outside on the street, and thankfully some honest person found it and brought it inside the branch. I went to the guy at the front and luckily he spoke English so I explained what happened and he laughed and went in the back to get the package and handed it over. Phew!! I guess this is what happens when I have a lot on my mind and I run around trying to get things done!

And here she is in all her star-spangled glory. Ava named her Star, she almost called her Americo (I think she had the name in her head because of the Portuguese guy that worked at the juice bar at our gym in Dublin) but I talked her out of it.