Jane Week #14 - SwaddleDesigns Stroller Blanket
SwaddleDesigns. Stroller Blanket.
My brother, when he was born, was given this green baby blanket. Smooth on one side, roughly soft, like fleece, on the other, it was green with mod brown circles patterned across it, the same-brown ribbon lining its edges.
I loved this blanket. The way it clung to the scent of the detergent, creating a homey (not homely–that's a different thing) comfort as I snuggled my nose in to take in the smell. In fact, I loved it so much my mother bought me one too. There were three colors: light pink, baby blue, and powdery green. I wanted the same green.
From my move from Anyang to Santa Clara, from Santa Clara to Fremont, the blanket stayed folded on my bed, unwrapped to the lighter green side every night for me to run my palm through. The texture left my hands tingling as I rubbed my palms across it back and forth.
The blanket is still with me to this day, and so is my brother’s with him. There is sort of a comfort that comes with holding onto a memento of our past, a physical reminder of how far we have come since we (or more he, since I was already about six-years-old by that point) were in cribs.
My cousin and her wife recently had their first child, a Wasian baby girl with fine hair and fine eyebrows, but expressive eyes. I felt a sense of adulthood and responsibility, with her being my first niece. Deliberately and carefully picking out the baby shower gift (which I couldn’t attend due to the distance) felt like the first step into my role as an aunt. The SwaddleDesigns Stroller Blanket was the obvious pick, in the same green color.
Hello Jane! This piece was so beautifully written and resonated a lot with me emotionally. This blog did a really good job at immersing me within the smells and touches of the blanket's texture and scent . The imagery that you provoked was a green blanket, with soft fleece and a pattern of brown circles. The way you wrote about this blanket made it become a symbol of comfort, memory, and history. Additionally, your blog was written in such a warm and personal voice which makes this relfection feel deeply relatable and very authentic.
ReplyDeleteHi Jane! It’s so great to hear about your stories with this blanket, it’s always fascinating to see relatively common objects that in my eyes mean so much and have so much significance in other’s lives. I have something similar: When I was born I was given a smaller Thumper plush from the movie Bambi, and I’ve had that for the entirety of my life. I have pictures dating back some seventeen years ago of me and that plush, and I’ll probably keep it no matter what happens. It too has a smell of homeyness, which isn’t really a distinct smell to most but rather an aroma that reminds you of home and your childhood. It’s so great that you are able to share this homeyness with your cousin’s child, I’m sure she’ll cherish her blanket as much as you cherish yours!
ReplyDeleteI love your story telling technique in this blog, where you transition between the first person perspective and then addressing the audience, as it keeps me engaged throughout the reading experience. I also love your descriptive details, and it’s nice that you were able to find the exact blanket online to share with us as well! Thank you for sharing and I look forward to your next blog!