None of us are the same person we were a decade ago. None of us are the same person we were a year ago. Heck, I'm not even sure that the Ash-that-was-yesterday is the same Ash-that-is-today (I certainly sneezed a lot less yesterday. Thanks, ever-evolving cold-thing). Change happens, slowly but surely. We're not the same as we were, but we're us, still. The core things that make us...us are still there. Even if everything feels impossible different.
I was making my bed this weekend, and I noticed my blankets. It's winter, so I have quite a few on my bed right now (and since my husband knows me well enough to not share with me because he's gonna end up cold and blanket-less because I burrito into all the blankets, there's even more on the bed). In a way, the blankets on the bed tie me to who I am, in the core of myself.
On my side of the bed, the bottom layer is a quilt my Nana gave me that I've had for...many years. I can't remember how long I've had it, but it's been in my life long enough that at some point, someone (my sister, I think?) put a new backing on it (which happens to be one of my old bedsheets). It reminds me of her so often when I snuggle into bed. My Nana gives excellent hugs, and she is always quick to tell a joke or say something that makes you smile. I can feel that, under her blanket.
The second layer is a quilt my sister made - when she got married, all her attendants (is that the right word? Her bridemaids and stuff) got a quilt she made out of old clothes and other things of hers. I can tell you about almost all the fabrics on it - so many memories of ridiculous adventures we had. My sister is very much my partner in absolute joy and silliness, and her quilt holds all of that.
The top layer right now on my side is a GIANT thick fuzzy blanket with a moon and star theme. My parents gave it to me when I was in my teens, I think. Maybe younger. It comes out only in the winter, when I am super cold. It's like all their love is so strong that it fills the blanket and keeps me so warm, that I can't use it most of the time.
When it's too hot for that blanket, I often have this amazing purple and yellow sunflower quilt that my mother in law made for my husband and I when we got married a couple years ago. It's made of so many pieces, and I know it took her a really long time to make. I think about how much love and dedication she put into it, and how much love she sends to us from far away. (She's still living in the US, and we're in Canada.)
My blankets help ground me in a whole lot of love. Whoever I was, whoever I am going to be, whoever I am - I am loved. I have all of this love stored in all of these blankets (and those are just the ones that are on my bed, there are more in my closet that are full of love and stories too). I am a daughter and wife and granddaughter and friend and sister and a whole lot of other things that aren't going to disappear any time soon. I am very lucky to have a family that surrounds me with love and warmth, even if they're not right here to give me a hug. My blankets are proof of that.
Family is important - one of the things the Baha'i Faith talks a lot about is the idea that we can't have world unity if we don't have family unity. I like how making my bed is a very physical reminder of the unity my family has created, and how blessed I am to have it.
On my side of the bed, the bottom layer is a quilt my Nana gave me that I've had for...many years. I can't remember how long I've had it, but it's been in my life long enough that at some point, someone (my sister, I think?) put a new backing on it (which happens to be one of my old bedsheets). It reminds me of her so often when I snuggle into bed. My Nana gives excellent hugs, and she is always quick to tell a joke or say something that makes you smile. I can feel that, under her blanket.
The second layer is a quilt my sister made - when she got married, all her attendants (is that the right word? Her bridemaids and stuff) got a quilt she made out of old clothes and other things of hers. I can tell you about almost all the fabrics on it - so many memories of ridiculous adventures we had. My sister is very much my partner in absolute joy and silliness, and her quilt holds all of that.
The top layer right now on my side is a GIANT thick fuzzy blanket with a moon and star theme. My parents gave it to me when I was in my teens, I think. Maybe younger. It comes out only in the winter, when I am super cold. It's like all their love is so strong that it fills the blanket and keeps me so warm, that I can't use it most of the time.
When it's too hot for that blanket, I often have this amazing purple and yellow sunflower quilt that my mother in law made for my husband and I when we got married a couple years ago. It's made of so many pieces, and I know it took her a really long time to make. I think about how much love and dedication she put into it, and how much love she sends to us from far away. (She's still living in the US, and we're in Canada.)
My blankets help ground me in a whole lot of love. Whoever I was, whoever I am going to be, whoever I am - I am loved. I have all of this love stored in all of these blankets (and those are just the ones that are on my bed, there are more in my closet that are full of love and stories too). I am a daughter and wife and granddaughter and friend and sister and a whole lot of other things that aren't going to disappear any time soon. I am very lucky to have a family that surrounds me with love and warmth, even if they're not right here to give me a hug. My blankets are proof of that.
Family is important - one of the things the Baha'i Faith talks a lot about is the idea that we can't have world unity if we don't have family unity. I like how making my bed is a very physical reminder of the unity my family has created, and how blessed I am to have it.
No comments:
Post a Comment