My Teddy Rosalie
11:11 ….. 2:22 …. 4:44
For years, I have noticed myself looking at a watch, wall clock, phone, or computer clock at exactly 11:11 a.m. or 11:11 p.m. At one point, it began freaking me out a bit, and I decided to look up the possible significance.
There are many theories, some more far-fetched than others, but this is my favorite:
“These 11:11 Wake-Up Calls on your digital clocks, mobile phones, VCR’s and microwaves are the ‘trademark’ prompts of a group of just 1,111 fun-loving Spirit Guardians, or Angels, and the 11:11 prompt is their way of using our innate ability for pattern recognition to let us know that they are here. Once they have your attention, they will use other digits, like 12:34, or 2:22 to remind you of their presence.”
[Excerpt courtesy of 11:11 Progress Group]
Keep in mind that I am one of the most non-religious persons you will ever meet. I’m more likely to believe in Twilight Zone type events than in angels and devils. But I have lost my dad, my favorite uncle, my favorite aunt, and a very dear friend over the years, and I would like to think there is some kind of connection with those lost souls during certain periods of time.
In April 2013, my mother (Rosalie) was in the final stages of her battle with cancer. When death became imminent, I received “the” call from my brother and then drove as fast as possible to the nursing home 80-some miles away.
Upon arrival at the nursing home, I found a teddy bear at the foot of my mother’s bed, under the covers. Everyone I asked claimed to have never seen that teddy bear before, and swore total ignorance as to how that bear came to be in my mother’s bed. My mother died within a few hours of my arrival. I took the teddy bear with me as a keepsake.
I had booked a hotel for the night as I knew I would be too upset to drive back home. Teddy Rosalie (yes, by now I had named her) sat in the passenger seat on the way to the hotel, accepted my tearful hugs that evening, slept in my bed that night, and sat again in the passenger seat on the way back home the next day. It was silly, I know, but I found comfort in having that stuffed toy so close to me.
Over the last year, and especially over the last couple of months, I have found myself waking up at odd times in the night – but always at a time that carries triple or quadruple digits: 11:11 p.m., 2:22 a.m., 3:33 a.m., and most often, 4:44 a.m.
I am not going to enter into a long, drawn-out discussion of religion/spirituality. But I will say that each time I awaken and see those digits on the clock, I then look over at Teddy Rosalie sitting atop my dresser – and I feel peaceful.
And so, as a tribute to my mother and to all other lost souls, I am creating a new, light-hearted feature for this blog. Every once in awhile, I will publish a photograph of Teddy Rosalie in some unusual place. These photos will appear sporadically and may or may not have anything to do with the subject of the post on which they are published. Sometimes the photos will appear in this blog, sometimes they will be on Facebook or Twitter only, maybe even on Flickr.com (so really, you should follow me everywhere!).
I intend to call these photos the “Where Is Teddy Rosalie?” series. Please join Teddy Rosalie on her travels, and should you ever find yourself in the same (or a similar) location where one of the photos was taken, please take a moment to think with love about your own lost souls.
I’m ready, CookieCakes – let’s go!
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I love to hear from my readers. You may comment on this post, comment on my Facebook, Twitter, or Flickr pages, or email me at cordeliasmom2012@yahoo.com or notcordeliasmom@aol.com
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Clock image by c.e.b., other images by Cordelia’s Mom (with a little spiritual help from Rosalie)
Cordelia's Mom, Still 