How a Photo Challenge Rocked My World

Day 10: Childhood memory

Meet Coonie, the ragged, t-shirt-wearing, once-plump raccoon. I've had Coonie for as long as I can remember. As a child, he was my "thing I can't sleep without." Most children have blankies. I have a stuffed raccoon. Yes, have. Present tense. Because, uh, he still sleeps in my pillow case. Which I guess makes him my adult "thing I can't sleep without."

Coonie used to be a handsome pillow pet of sorts, but time has not been kind to my old friend. By the time I reached high school his stuffing was matted and flat. His shirt (which used to read "Wild n' Crazy" on the front and "Cute n' Fun" on the back) was threadbare. His seams were constantly ripping and being poorly resewn with thread that never matched. And then, when I was in college, my dog, Ginger, chewed out his throat and stomach. Hence the big hole. Ginger was returned to the SPCA soon after. 

Just kidding. Sorta. She was returned to the SPCA soon after, but not because of the raccoon manslaughter. 

Sorta.

Anyway, when I studied abroad in Puerto Rico for a semester in college, Coonie went with me. Six months on an island got pretty boring, believe it or not, and that's when I decided to give him some new skin. Hence the hearts. I attempted, with little hope of succeeding, to find a picture of what Coonie used to look like online by searching "Shirt Tales" (as seen on his ass). I didn't end up finding what I was looking for, but I found SO MUCH MORE. 

I discovered that there was actually a whole Shirt Tales brand, including greeting cards, several varieties of stuffed animals and various other toys, and a cartoon that ran for three years back in the 80's. 

I also learned that Coonie's real name is Rick. Rick Raccoon. Yeah. 

Once I'd recovered from the shock (I mean, you think you know a guy...), I decided to YouTube the show to see if there were any clips and, you guys, I HEARD COONIE'S VOICE! Not only that, but I found an account that has a bajillion episodes (or 23)! I know what I'm doing with my Federal holiday...

This is all just so, so exciting to me. And unnerving. Coonie has always been Coonie, you know? If I hadn't done this 30 Day Photo Challenge, I probably never would have discovered Coonie's secret past.

I also never would have developed my new obsession...

Purchasing every single Rick Raccoon/Coonie item I can find online. And there is a lot to be found. Behold!

I might have already bought this...

Sam, we're gonna need a few more bookshelves. 

EDIT: After talking to my mother, I've learned that she knew of Coonie's past all along and apparently I did, too. She said my older brother and I used to watch Shirt Tales all of the time as children. I obviously remember none of this.