Hear Jim’s Red Clay Diary: https://youtu.be/Jt68asaspa4

or read his transcript below:

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Life, actually…

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Eight or more decades ago…I am hugging my best friend, Teddy. I am about as happy as I will ever be.

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Lying here in my cradle, all rested and cleaned up and fresh-diapered, all well-fed and comfy, I am the center of my own little universe. This coziness is made possible by family, made joyful by Teddy, the small stuffed teddy bear lying next to me.

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Teddy and I go way back. Well, back a few days at least.

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Teddy will accompany me for many years from this moment on. Indeed, he is still within sight. From atop loaded bookcases in my writing room, Teddy gazes at me and keeps vigil.

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Together, Teddy and I ponder the perplexities of life. Throughout the passings of time we solve and re-solve the problems of the world, the problems of day-to-day life. Our journey is sometimes difficult, often scary, once in a while brutal. But, side by side, our adventures have also exposed us to hilarity and love and sudden kindly wisdoms.

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Teddy and I share disappointments and despairs, successes and victories. We age together. He is my Dorian Gray, I am his Dorian Gray.

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His vision impaired, old buttons enhance his sight. My vision lacking, lenses and frames make things seem normal.

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His fur is mangy and spotty. My skin is mottled and bumpy.

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And so on.

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Teddy and I age gracelessly. But to each other, we are beautiful.

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Best friends sometimes remain best friends because we can remember how lovely and young and hopeful we were at first. No matter what changes occur, these powerful remembrances cloud and enhance our path. We don’t notice the flaws and failures. We simply remain fresh and true to one another.

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And we hold hands at the threshold, ready for the Next Thing, knowing we can get through it all in one piece

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© 2025 A.D. by Jim Reed