Since about April 2020, I've been gifted an amount of plushies and stuffed toysies from my friend's kids - at least a few were very dear to them, before they came my way.
In each case, I fold them into my life, and send photos of them "helping". I have a purple bear who is now in charge of the kitchen, and a smaller pink bear, who is now in charge of the cafe. They were both very, very well loved before they came to me during lockdown and my period of isolation. I don't massively plan how they're going to "fold in" to my life, they just do. I treat this very seriously.
This has carried on as a "thing".
Recently, we welcomed into a our life a small stuffie octopus (Bloop), who for reasons I cannot quite work out, ended up on financial duty for the "restaurant" that I sort of pretend to operate for my friends and their kids. Lots of photos of her in front of a calculator and whatnot, and delighted children on the other end.
Anyway, Annalee Newitz 🍜 (npub1hhs…rl5g) Automatic Noodle is *sending us* right now.
Fantastic book. Just what I needed. ❤️