Three years ago, I went on an amazing journey in Brazil with my son Seth. We traveled to the State of Mato Grosso’s Pantanal, the world’s largest tropical wetland area and a place to see an amazing array of animals in their national habitat.  The capabara, (also known as Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) is a very large rodent that is a common sight along the Paraguay River there. Although rat-like, there is something cunning about the families as they scurry along the shore.

All of the above is to explain why I just purchased my first stuff animal (pictured above) in decades.  I’m not sure where I saw it online, but I knew I had to have it.

Now, in my old age, I am in love.

With a stuffed animal!