

I am a fan of the bear-charms-on-bags look, though I can’t tell
if it’s another manifestation of my crippling Peter Pan syndrome.
I started hanging miniature stuffed bears
on my bags last year (my parents
rarely buy souvenirs for their children when they travel—I get a lot of
Walkers shortbread cookies and plane peanuts that they’d grab on flights
home and the occasional free box of hotel treats that
they failed to finish; these tiny bears that housekeeping leaves guests are
maybe the best gifts that I have gotten from them).
After the fourth or fifth time
that someone asked me why I was hanging hotel-branded bears on my bag, I decided
I might just buy a nondescript bear charm to hang instead.
Having motivation to buy something is great, but having to justify paying $150+ for a tiny bag charm isn’t easy, especially when you can get a giant Giant Panda cuddling a tiny Giant Panda stuffed animal set for under $50. Or a six feet tall giant toy Giraffe for about $150.
Who can help me do the math?!