Today I went on a field trip! For real. With a group of seventh graders, including my favorite seventh grader, my son. Our destination was the National State History Museum in Tacoma.
I love a good field trip. You get to see your kid interact with their classmates. It’s like an animal in their natural habitat. And I’m an anthropologist. Observing, watching, and soaking it up. If he reads this, it will likely be my last field trip. But anyway.
It’s a K-8 school and I’ve known most of these boys since kindergarten, if not pre-school. To see them now, so big and teenage-ery, is wild. They’re mostly all taller than me. And somehow, my son is almost the tallest kid in the class. Unexpected…from this 5’1″ mom.
The field trip wasn’t that notable really other than my own little anthropological study. But a certain sign did catch my eye.
It’s possible I’m the only one in the whole museum that even read the sign about artifacts. It was small and obscure. But it spoke to me.
Here’s why:
What is this sad little Tigger doing in this blog? It’s a great example of an ordinary object with extraordinary meaning.
This Tigger was on my oldest daughter’s first birthday cake over 14 years ago. It was in a kitchen drawer for many years, alongside other candles and baking supplies. I kept it because it was a sentimental reminder of her first birthday and I am an acknowledged sentimental sap.
Six years later, after I had found out her little sister had an unknown and rare neurological disorder, I was reeling. We didn’t know what the future would look like for her and it was a terrifying and heartbreaking time. Once we got the initial diagnosis, it took three months to get into a neurodevelopmental doctor, and many more months of uncertainty and fear.
During this window of time, I struggled to process. One day, my eye landed on this Tigger. It became symbolic. I could choose to tackle this challenge with fear, uncertainty and gloom (a la Eeyore) or I could be a f#$+ing Tigger. With endless optimism. And energy. Bouncing through the day versus plodding. Choosing joy.
I chose to be Tigger. And I have been embracing my inner Tigger ever since.
Since then, Tigger had a distinct spot on the windowsill in my kitchen for many years. When we moved into our rental house, he ended up in the medicine cabinet by my toothbrush. I’m not sure why, but I see him several times each day.
This morning he caught my eye and I paused for a moment and thought…”hello, little friend.”
So the sign in the museum about ordinary objects with extraordinary meaning caught my eye today. I thought of Tigger. And so many other objects that I surround myself with at home and at work that have extraordinary meanings. They’re my little secrets mostly. But they inspire me. They make me happy. And they remind me of the meaning of life.
The Redefining 
What a wonderful story and the field trip sounded like a lot of fun! Reminds me of the times when my parents would come with me on my school trips as well. The way you spoke about Tigger reminded me of this porcelain doll I have from my grandmother. Whenever I look at the doll, it reminds me of the wonderful times I had with my grandma! It’s funny how the simple things in life hold a lot of meaning to us 😊 a wonderful read!
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