I’ve long been fascinated by “butterfly effects” – the ability of seemingly small events to have such a big impact further on down the road. In science, it has been posited that a butterfly flapping its wings in Tokyo could alter the course of a tropical storm thousands of miles away, thus the effect’s name. This week, thousands of miles (and many years) away from the original seeds, we ended up reaping the harvest of two butterfly effect events.
My father’s largest client happened to be located in the General Motors building in midtown Manhattan, and he would visit frequently. For some reason, back in 1931, Frederick August Otto Schwarz decided that he would move his toy store to the southeast corner of W. 58th street (I doubt the GM building was there when he made the decision). One day, back in November 1997, after one of his meetings ended early, my dad decided to pop into FAO Schwarz (which had now moved to the GM building) to buy a present for his new grandson, Josh. I’m not sure why my father picked Schatzi, the stuffed white bear made by Gund, but it probably seemed like the absolutely perfect, positively special, just-right gift he was looking for. And it was. Although my 12-year old would probably not want his name to be associated with stuffed animals anymore, he still has Schatzi. Schatzi has been with him to four continents, sleep-overs, sleep-away camp, and is in his carry-on luggage as I write this.
Wendy and I can’t recall exactly when Josh became passionate about polar bears in general (not just Schatzi in particular), but it has been a long time. We have visited the polar bears at the San Diego zoo, we’ve read with interest all the trials and tribulations of baby Knut in the Berlin zoo, we’ve bought numerous polar bear toys, watched several national geographic specials and tried to learn as much as possible about the great white carnivore of the north. And so, when we were thinking about things to do on our year-long odyssey that would celebrate the children’s passions, polar bears were near the top of the list. Back in April, I had never heard of Churchill Manitoba, but when I Googled “Polar Bear tour” and “North America”, it was in all the search results. It seems, that the place to see the bear is in a town just off the Hudson bay, 900 miles north of Winnipeg that has no roads leading in (but does have an airport, train station and sea port). Apparently, the polar bears cross the frozen Hudson bay in the spring and den-in around Churchill, and then wake up in September, famished and looking for seals (or anything else they can eat) and are itching to head north the arctic circle, but are stuck around Churchill until the Hudson Bay re-freezes (usually in mid-November). So, for most of October and November, thousands of polar bear admirers flock to Churchill and load themselves into tundra buggies to view the magnificent animals (I’ll try to blog more about the bear sightings after we’ve actually seen a few).
Thus, because my father’s largest client happened to be located next to FAO Schwartz, and he happened to pick a certain plush toy 12 years ago, I’m now on a 16-hour overnight train ride from Thompson, MB to Churchill. When my dad gave Josh Schatzi, I’m sure I said something like “what a nice toy, it’s so soft, I’m sure the baby will love it.” I didn’t know enough to say “thank goodness it’s not a Koala, then we’d have to travel to Australia in 12 years time” or something more forward thinking. That’s one of the exciting (or frustrating) things about butterfly effects -- while you’re watching the wings flapping, you have no idea of the magnitude of the eventual impact.
My father’s largest client happened to be located in the General Motors building in midtown Manhattan, and he would visit frequently. For some reason, back in 1931, Frederick August Otto Schwarz decided that he would move his toy store to the southeast corner of W. 58th street (I doubt the GM building was there when he made the decision). One day, back in November 1997, after one of his meetings ended early, my dad decided to pop into FAO Schwarz (which had now moved to the GM building) to buy a present for his new grandson, Josh. I’m not sure why my father picked Schatzi, the stuffed white bear made by Gund, but it probably seemed like the absolutely perfect, positively special, just-right gift he was looking for. And it was. Although my 12-year old would probably not want his name to be associated with stuffed animals anymore, he still has Schatzi. Schatzi has been with him to four continents, sleep-overs, sleep-away camp, and is in his carry-on luggage as I write this.
Wendy and I can’t recall exactly when Josh became passionate about polar bears in general (not just Schatzi in particular), but it has been a long time. We have visited the polar bears at the San Diego zoo, we’ve read with interest all the trials and tribulations of baby Knut in the Berlin zoo, we’ve bought numerous polar bear toys, watched several national geographic specials and tried to learn as much as possible about the great white carnivore of the north. And so, when we were thinking about things to do on our year-long odyssey that would celebrate the children’s passions, polar bears were near the top of the list. Back in April, I had never heard of Churchill Manitoba, but when I Googled “Polar Bear tour” and “North America”, it was in all the search results. It seems, that the place to see the bear is in a town just off the Hudson bay, 900 miles north of Winnipeg that has no roads leading in (but does have an airport, train station and sea port). Apparently, the polar bears cross the frozen Hudson bay in the spring and den-in around Churchill, and then wake up in September, famished and looking for seals (or anything else they can eat) and are itching to head north the arctic circle, but are stuck around Churchill until the Hudson Bay re-freezes (usually in mid-November). So, for most of October and November, thousands of polar bear admirers flock to Churchill and load themselves into tundra buggies to view the magnificent animals (I’ll try to blog more about the bear sightings after we’ve actually seen a few).
Thus, because my father’s largest client happened to be located next to FAO Schwartz, and he happened to pick a certain plush toy 12 years ago, I’m now on a 16-hour overnight train ride from Thompson, MB to Churchill. When my dad gave Josh Schatzi, I’m sure I said something like “what a nice toy, it’s so soft, I’m sure the baby will love it.” I didn’t know enough to say “thank goodness it’s not a Koala, then we’d have to travel to Australia in 12 years time” or something more forward thinking. That’s one of the exciting (or frustrating) things about butterfly effects -- while you’re watching the wings flapping, you have no idea of the magnitude of the eventual impact.
Schatzi on the train en route to ChurchillThe second way that fate / butterfly effects impacted our lives this week goes back even further. In 1914, Lt. Harry Colebourn was being shipped over to the UK to fight in the Great War, and as he was going through Ontario he decided to purchase a pet to keep him and his fellow soldiers company. Being a bit of a maverick, Lt. Colebourn decided to purchase a bear instead of a dog or a cat (a black bear alas, not a polar bear). And, because he wanted to be reminded of his home town of Winnipeg, Colebourn named the bear Winnie. Now, had Colebourn not passed through White River, Ontario on a day when bear cubs were for sale, this story would have a different ending. Had the UK had the same quarantine laws that they now have this story would have a different ending. Had Colebourn’s regiment not been called up to leave the UK and go to France, this story would have a different. Had Colebourn not lent the bear to the London zoo while he went to France this story would have a different ending. Had he not permanently donated the bear to the zoo upon his return from the war (because the bear had become very popular with children) this story would have a different ending. Had writer AA Milne’s son, Christopher Robin, not enjoyed going to the London zoo and seeing the bear, this story would have a different ending. But, dayenu, Milne saw how much his son liked the bear and they named his stuffed bear Winnie as well. Christopher’s stuffed toy is still viewable, I think, at the New York public library. And two statues were cast of Lt. Colebourn and Winnie and one was placed in the London Zoo and the other in Assiniboine Park zoo in Winnipeg. Likewise, had Simon not liked going to the London Zoo and seeing the statue, and hearing the story of Lt. Colebourn, AA Milne, Christopher Robin and, of course, Winnie, this story would have had another ending. But, when we realized we’d be passing through Winnipeg on the way to Churchill, we realized we had to see the “other” Colebourn statue.
So while I always had a vague conception that stuffed animals could have a major impact on their owner’s and their owner’s families, I never imagined that in one week we’d be traveling hundreds of miles because of two different stuffed bears.
Josh by the statue of Winnie & Lt. Colbourne
So while I always had a vague conception that stuffed animals could have a major impact on their owner’s and their owner’s families, I never imagined that in one week we’d be traveling hundreds of miles because of two different stuffed bears.
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