DON’T LOOK A GIFT BEAR IN THE MOUTH

My dad gave me a lot of things like the necklace he bought me from a copper mine giftshop when I was in sixth grade.

Or, the set of wooden scoops he sanded from five different types of exotic hardwood.

Or, the table he made out of an old pew or something.

But I think I would have to say this is one of the most unusual gifts from my dad. In case, you don’t have a set of these at your house and therefore, don’t recognize them – these are bear teeth.

My dad knew someone that went bear hunting in Alaska or somewhere and my dad asked if he could have the teeth. I’m not sure why he wanted the teeth: I guess he just wanted to know what a bear’s tooth looked like.

Anyhow, at the time this all happened, I was teaching preschool so when my dad was done studying the teeth, he gave them to me to impress the preschoolers. Every year I’d pull them out (you’ve heard of pulling teeth, right?)  and all the little boys would say “Ooooooooooooooooo” and the little girls would go “Ewwwwwwwwwwww.”

So, I still have them and I they still make an appearance every once in awhile when I’m teaching a lesson or want to impress any little munchkins who are hanging around.

I just can’t “bear” to get rid of them.