ERNIE: A Toy Story

The movie "Toy Story 3" is a current box office hit. As a sequel to "Toy Story" and "Toy Story 2" this latest version in the Toy Story saga ponders the idea of what happens to toys when kids grow up. From childhood to adulthood toys get lost, destroyed, broken, given away and in some very rare cases; survive. Survival can be a rare thing, even favorite or special toys may not survive very long. Ernie, a stuffed dog, is a survivor and a favorite. His survivability is due in part to my Mom who put him away many years ago and brought it out and to my attention some years later. However, maybe I should introduce you to Ernie, tell you who he is and why he is special.
The b & w picture shows me and my stuffed dog, Scottie. I was about 3 years old when I got Scottie as a present, not sure how or when. All I remember is that I took him to bed with me for many years. The plaid material on his back wore thin and was replaced by my Mom. Before Scottie "faded away" he was joined by Ernie and here's where the story of Ernie begins.
In the early 1960's our family lived in Hutchinson, Kansas. Just like any normal 1st or 2nd grader watching saturday morning television was a favorite pastime. One show in particular to watch was a local "kid's auction" show. Sorry, the name escapes me. It was hosted by Ernie Dade who, we later found out, was the son of a second grade teacher, Mrs. Dade, at Roosevelt Elementary school. Roosevelt was the school I attended. The show was sponsored by Kitty Clover potato chips and originated from a studio in Wichita, about 60 miles away. Children would collect and save points from Kitty Clover potato chip bags and use them to bid on items/toys presented on the show. My friend Walter found out that the show was coming to Hutchinson for a special showing. His parents and mine went through the proper channels to secure invitations for us to be part of the "live" broadcast. Potato chips points were saved and the saturday morning of the show came.
We arrived at the show, points were cashed in, parents went to the viewing room and kids went to the studio set. Lights, camera, action....we were on TV and the show began. Ernie Dade came out, told about the toys/prizes, and the bidding began for the first item, a stuffed gray dog, with a big black nose and two floppy ears. Kids were raising their hands bidding on the dog and my hand went up also, even though I had no idea what I was doing. Soon the bidding stopped..... sold to the young man in the black sweater. That was me?!! I had won!?? Down to the front, give my name and over to the "winners" seats I went for the rest of the show. The auction continued and finally the show was over. Mom & Dad came out to the studio and were saying I had bid more points than I actually had. Should we give the dog back? What were we to do? "No, it's not the first time this has happened. All you need to do is keep eating Kitty Clover potato chips, save the points and send them to us until it's paid for."
So, I had a new gray dog with a big black nose and two floppy ears. What was I going to name him? Ernie, after Ernie Dade of course. Ernie joined Scottie and I in bed at night when I went to sleep. Scottie finally wore out and Ernie hung around for many more years as fur rubbed off, eyes wore out, ears came off and were sewn back on. Obviously Ernie didn't go with me to college and Mom put him away with some boxes of things still left at home.
Years later, when I had three kids of my own, Mom gave me the box of things that contained Ernie. Matthew was still in elementary school and took Ernie to bed with him for a few years. A rip had developed in his side, old stuffing had fallen out to be replaced with new, one ear was gone, eyes and mouth long gone and a lot of fur rubbed off. In some places the material was almost threadbare.


Today Ernie still survives in a special place in my closet. He's been out a few times to be introduced to Julia, Molly, JC and Jetta. I've heard of the book "A Velveteen Rabbit" but not read it. It explores some of the same issues as "Toy Story 3", What happens to old favorite toys when their "kids" grow up? Ernie has been around for almost 50 years. Priceless? You bet. How much longer will he be around? Who knows, but he has served as "man's best friend" for a great many years. -30-