A little Snoopy, a lot of adventures, and the joy of never quite growing up.

There is a stuffed Snoopy in my purse.

Not occasionally.

Pretty much always.

And before you decide this is where I’ve officially crossed the line from quirky to maybe someone should check on Wendi, I should probably explain.

Although I’m not entirely sure the explanation will help my case.

It Actually Started with Dan

My love affair with Snoopy really started as an adult, about six years ago, and mostly because of Dan.

Years ago, when Dan worked at ESPN, there was a health fair. MetLife was handing out little stuffed Snoopys, and Dan brought one home.

Except Snoopy didn’t exactly stay home.

Dan started taking him on trips, including Brazil, where even the flight attendants apparently understood they had a VIP passenger onboard.

He had shoes. A scarf. Eventually, a watch.

We now call him International Snoopy, because somewhere along the way we established a perfectly reasonable household policy:

International Snoopy only travels internationally.

Obviously.

He even joined us in Italy earlier this year. In fact, the Snoopy you see posing in front of the Trevi Fountain is International Snoopy. He’s smaller than his traveling counterpart, which made him better suited for the sling bag I carried everywhere.

International travel requires practical packing decisions.

And Then There Was Traveling Snoopy

Somewhere along the way, Dan’s Beanie Baby Snoopy became Traveling Snoopy.

I can’t tell you when he took his first trip. Honestly, it feels like he’s just always been there.

Unlike International Snoopy, Traveling Snoopy has no geographical restrictions.

Restaurants. Theme parks. Concerts. Airplanes. Road trips. Hotels. The pool.

If we’re going somewhere, chances are Snoopy is coming.

He’s even been known to enjoy a cocktail, take a leisurely float around the pool, or sit at the bar while we enjoy a drink.

And he has expensive taste.

While International Snoopy was sightseeing in Italy, Traveling Snoopy spent a little more time lounging around our hotels and resorts.

Presumably running up the room-service bill.

Someone had to enjoy the accommodations.

A Well-Dressed Beagle

I should probably mention that Snoopy has quite the wardrobe.

And when I say wardrobe, I don’t mean a couple of shirts stuffed in a drawer.

I mean an actual wardrobe.

His clothes and accessories live in a repurposed Veuve Clicquot bottle holder.

Because obviously, a stuffed beagle who travels internationally requires appropriate storage for his clothing.

There are Disney ears. Holiday outfits. A wedding ensemble. A tiny apron. And a miniature bag of flour.

He also has a watch, which makes perfect sense given Dan’s growing watch collection.

As I write this, it’s October, so Snoopy has already changed into his Halloween Spirit Jersey.

And his watch.

Because accessories matter.

Yes, Snoopy Was at Our Wedding

Of course he was.

He had a bow tie.

And he rode around in my backpack purse, peeking out during the festivities.

Which brings me to another perfectly reasonable fact about my life.

I buy purses based partly on whether Snoopy fits inside.

I’m serious.

I have looked at handbags and thought, It’s adorable, but where would Snoopy go?

A designated Snoopy pocket is practically a selling point.

Someone recently asked, if the house were on fire and every person and pet were safely outside, are you grabbing Traveling Snoopy on the way out?

ABSOLUTELY.

Not even a moment of hesitation.

I realize this may not be helping my argument.

Snoopy Goes to College

Recently, Dan and I visited Boston, including a stop at MIT, where Dan is an adjunct professor.

Naturally, Snoopy came along.

And naturally, he needed an MIT shirt.

Unfortunately, finding university apparel for a stuffed beagle isn’t quite as easy as you’d think.

So we purchased a random stuffed bear simply because it was wearing a shirt that fit Snoopy.

I have no idea what happened to the bear.

But Snoopy looked fabulous.

Dan also decided to take our trip planning to another level by creating an AI agent.

Except instead of a traditional travel planner, we essentially had Snoopy planning our Boston adventure.

And Woodstock had opinions, too.

Strong opinions.

Including a demand for cannoli.

I’m not entirely sure how we arrived at a place where a stuffed dog and a cartoon bird are influencing our vacation itinerary.

But here we are.

It’s Not Just the Traveling

Snoopy has also become part of our home.

We have Snoopy pillows, signs, stuffed animals, artwork, and even an entire Snoopy wall.

One of my favorite pieces is by artist Tom Everhart, whose colorful interpretations of the Peanuts characters are absolutely incredible.

We originally went to a gallery to have something signed.

We left with two paintings.

Because apparently that’s what happens when we visit art galleries.

One painting features Snoopy and Woodstock admiring a painting of themselves.

It’s playful, colorful, imaginative, and a little unexpected.

I freaking loved it.

And when I think about why Snoopy appeals to me, I realize we have a few things in common.

He’s goofy. Mischievous. Creative. He has a wild imagination and a big heart.

He loves to eat, nap, and spend time with his best friend, Woodstock.

Honestly, replace Woodstock with Dan and we’re getting dangerously close to describing me.

The Great Snoopy Switcheroo

There is one small detail Traveling Snoopy doesn’t know.

His predecessor had a very full life.

A lot of adventures. A lot of miles. And perhaps a few too many trips through what we call the Big Red Machine.

Also known as the washing machine.

Eventually, the original Traveling Snoopy was looking a little too well-loved.

So we retired him and quietly introduced a replacement.

Same Snoopy. Same adventures. Fresh stuffing.

Shhhhh.

He doesn’t know.

And we’re not telling him.

Finding Your Happy

Somewhere along the way, Snoopy became part of our story.

Part of our adventures, our inside jokes, our travels, and our everyday life.

Dan will even answer questions as Snoopy sometimes, usually saying something a little mischievous or wildly inappropriate.

Apparently, Snoopy has no filter.

I wonder where he gets that from.

But more than anything, Snoopy makes me happy.

Finding the little things that make you smile. The things that bring you joy, even when they don’t make sense to anyone else.

And perhaps that’s what Snoopy really represents for me.

A little silliness. A lot of laughter. A collection of memories. And a reminder that life doesn’t always have to be so serious.

The older I get, the less interested I am in deciding whether something I love is appropriately “adult.” If it makes me happy and isn’t hurting anyone, I’m probably going to make room for it.

Literally.

In my purse.

We all deserve something that brings us a ridiculous amount of joy.

Snoopy happens to be mine.

What’s yours? ❤️