WHAT RUBY MEANS TO ME
WWWCoF members who have met Ruby, our Circle's travelling mascot tell us their stories.
Jeanette, of Australia:
When I entered this competition I thought about what everyone would have affection for, and appeal to, even if you are a teenager (at heart) or someone like me who is retired. What came to mind was a teddy bear and there is no doubt throughout the world people love Teddy Bears, I myself have a wonderful collection of bears and books on bears.
The moment that I saw Ruby I fell in love with her - there she was sitting in the window of the Newsagents in Mornington and somehow she said to me "take me home Jeanette - I am for you".
Ruby is so beautiful - my grandchildren just loved her and want to hear about her travels when we go into the computer to see where this lucky young lady has been to.
To me Ruby is a symbol of our friendship and caring for one another - since I joined this group - now nearly 3 years ago I have made many wonderful friends - I live here a long way from you all in the Land down under (Australia) amd although I am so far away I feel as though I know each and everyone of you, from my talking on MSN to you and also Skype. The grat emails and the friendship and caring for one another is something out of this world, and something that I could not do without now.
So in Ruby I see each one of you now - and just see what she has done for all of us in World Wide Circle of Friends - love to all - Jeanette - Melbourne - Australia. p.s. give her a kiss from me (her mother).
- love Jeanette –
Marie- Reunion 2004 hostess, Canada
Story to follow
Daphne, in Argentina:
Though I somehow got to be the one to make up Ruby’s site, and was closely following the issue from the very beginning when Jeanette of Australia, had the idea of a mascot for our Circle, and also ended up being the winner of the contest to choose what it was to be, I didn’t meet Ruby till the Reunion in Ontario in 2004, where she was under the care of Marie, our hostess. Even before I met her, Ruby had come alive.
It was a great honour for me when I was chosen to take Ruby back home to Argentina after she had accompanied us everywhere. Ruby really showed the Circle’s presence when I was due to return home after extending my stay a few days to visit a life long friend in WV, and had yet another set back with American airline companies where my flight was rescheduled 24 hours and taking a completely different route. Through Ruby, I knew the exact moment the Circle was watching out for me and I stopped feeling “cheesed off”.
Having Ruby in my house was also a good thing. She met most of my students of English, and they all, without exception thought it was a really grand idea to have a representative to something like a International group, travel around and visiting all the members. Children also understand the concept of an international visitor. Agos (then 6) took to Ruby straight away, gave her V.I.P. treatment but also fully understood that that little bear was not ours, or hers, and that the time would come when she would have to move on to visit other members.
Well, I hope everyone else gets the same pleasure from having an important member of the Circle visit them for a while, and sees Ruby as an excellent means of discovering where and how others live, and uniting us all.
love from Daphne
Agos:
Ruby is very important to me, because my gran makes her website and I am the lucky one who picks her next place from the names in a bag… gran tells me the names and I write them down. Then we look at the atlas to see where she is going next, so I learn about different places through Ruby. I hope she comes back to visit us one day.-Agostina
Pat, of Ontario Canada:
Late last summer, when I received the email telling me that my name had been drawn to have Ruby visit me, I was really excited! I patiently waited, Daphne emailed to say she was on her way. And finally after about two weeks, I opened my mail box and there was the package that had held Ruby captive for 14 days.
I rushed into the house and tore open the parcel, and there she was, what a beautiful site!
The first thing I did was take her picture, and then I had my hubby Darryl take one of me holding Ruby.
I had her sitting in my computer room with me for most of her stay here. I would talk to her when I was online chatting with the girls from the Circle. And, one of the first things I did was to get her a Hotmail addy so she get send and receive emails, and of course that also meant she could chat with the girls during our morning coffee breaks. What fun that was, to surprise them signing Ruby online instead of me.
I began to think of her as a person, rather than a little bear. By the time she arrived the weather was turning colder, and I thought I’d better get her some winter attire. And when I went shopping I had to take her to Wally’s with me.
As the time drew near for Daphne and her granddaughter to make the name draw for Ruby’s next destination, I felt a sadness come over me, as I realized she couldn’t stay with me forever! Now I knew how Daphne, and before her Marie felt, when it was their turn to send Ruby on her way. And Jeanette! I can’t imagine how painful it must have been for her, because in essence she is Ruby’s Mother. She had won the contest to decide what our mascot would be, and then proceeded to go out and find one.
I also came to the realization what else Ruby means to all of us here in the WWWCOF. She is a symbol for what we stand for, basically THE WORLD WIDE WEB CIRCLE OF FRIENDS. Because we can’t travel around the globe, Ruby is doing it for us. Each destination she goes to she takes a little of each of the previous places she’s been. We add thinks like little gifts, and pins; post cards and brochures. And of course she has her hard copy journal that each new care giver can read in the comfort and privacy of her home.
So little Miss Ruby, just to let you know I love you and miss you, and who knows, maybe some day you can come back, a seasoned traveler to visit me in my corner of the world once again.
Love from Pat
Becky, Maryland USA
Becky's story to follow
Ruby's next place to visit in Karen's, in Indiana, USA. Have a good trip Ruby!!
Return to RUBY'S Page
Background from: http://snogirl.snoville.com/
