Having never developed an appreciation for stuffed animals, I gave them a cursory glance, and pronounced them adorable

When we were young, stuffed animals ranked low as toys.

In fact, we approached them with the same degree of suspicion we extended to wall-to-wall carpeting. This kind of caution makes sense if the people you live with suffer from allergies. The cuteness of stuffed animals fade, and the reality is they can harbor the trigger for the next coughing fit or scratchy throat. Yes, many are washable, but then they lose their plushness, and their fur becomes matted and tangled.

Twenty-five years ago, when I was engaged, my husband — then chassan — dropped in with a chassan-kallah teddy bear set. The teddy chassan was dressed in a top hat and tuxedo; the kallah wore a lace skirt, pearl headband, and veil.

Having never developed an appreciation for stuffed animals, I gave them a cursory glance, and pronounced them adorable.

“Let’s go,” I said. We were heading out for pizza.

“Look again,” he told me.

“Really adorable,” I replied.

“No,” he said. “Really look.”