Not many kids get sent off to pre-school with their own custom-painted pencil box, complete with a mini portrait of their favorite teddy bear. I’m sure at the time I just thought all kids had mothers who painted and created pictures. Although it was most likely a practical thing, just to label my pencil box so I wouldn’t lose it like so many of my other things, the added touch of painting the bear made it something I would treasure and hold on to. The fact that I still have it on my desk more than 65 years later is testament to the fact that I did eventually really appreciate the love and effort that went into it.