There is a stuffed bunny rabbit that sits on my bed. It’s not new or fluffy, instead, it’s rather well-used and well-loved. It’s seen me grow up. It’s seen every single first day of school from my first day of kindergarten to my first day of senior year. Its name is Peter because I wanted to name it after Peter Rabbit. My mom likes to refer to Peter as “the traveling bunny” since he’s been all over the world.

He was there when I took my first overseas trip to Paris, France. He watched me go round and round on what I would later learn to call a carousel. He was there with me when I got scared at the tippy top of the Eiffel Tower. 

He was there when I went to Italy. He was there when I climbed to the top of the Leaning Tower of Pisa even though I wasn’t technically old enough to. He was there to help me sleep when I couldn’t because of the time difference. He was there when I tried Margherita pizza for the first time and sang in a quaint little ice cream shop in Saint Marks Square. He’s even been blessed by the Pope. 

He was there when I went to London, England, and rode a double-decker bus for the first time. He watched me with wide eyes as I made Harrods (a London toy store) my playground. He was there as I stared with amazement at the big horses during the Changing of the Guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace.

He was there when I went to the Netherlands. He watched as I galloped through fields of colorful tulips and climbed to the top of windmills.

He was there when I went to Japan. He watched out the window of the bullet trains as I watched the world speed by. 

He was there when I went to Switzerland. He climbed the real Matterhorn with me, tried fondue with me, and cheered me on as I ziplined down the Jungfrau.

Next year I go off to college and Peter will be off on a new adventure with me. He’s been all over the world but more importantly, he’s been with me through thick and thin. He’s been a shoulder for me to bawl my eyes out with when the days are tough, and he’s been there for me to toss up in the air when I am super excited. Since I was one, he’s been by my side. He may not be new or perfect, but he is well-loved and the most perfect childhood companion that anyone could ask for.