Thankful Thursday

It wasn't easy to be thankful today.  In fact it hasn't been easy to be thankful most of this year -- more on that later.

Still, today is Thankful Thursday, and today I am thankful for my electric blanket. 

When my husband and I were married (30 years ago!) we received an electric blanket as a present from my Great-Aunt Evelyn.  On our gift registry I indicated that our bedroom colors would be light blue and brown, so Aunt Evelyn gave us a milk chocolate colored electric blanket, queen size with dual controls.  Actually to describe the color of the blanket as milk chocolate is being generous.  In reality the color was more of a boring medium brown, but it did coordinate with our comforter and sheet sets.

It didn't take long for me to realize the absolute best use for an electric blanket -- warming up the bed for a half an hour or so before slipping between the sheets.  If I'm not warm, I have a hard time falling asleep.  The summer I studied in Ireland I walked around in a state of sleep deprivation.  Ireland, even in summer, is not warm and I was too cheap to use my precious Irish pence to feed the coin-operated electric heater in my chalet (pronounced "shally") at the Y in Sandymount.  I suffered through some chilly, sleepless nights, but at least I had money to buy tea and brown bread at Bewley's on Grafton Street and cider at the pubs -- a girl has to sort out her priorities.  : )

Summers in Illinois are decidedly warmer than those in the Republic of Ireland, and the fact that we live in an un-air-conditioned house ups the warmth factor.  Even so, our electric blanket remains on the bed year round because I never know when I might need it.  And yes, I have turned it on in July and August when the nighttime temperature has dropped below seventy degrees.

Sadly Aunt Evelyn's electric blanket did not survive to see our 30th anniversary.  After over twenty-five years of use and abuse (kids, cats, and forgetfulness in the age before automatic shut-off) one night the warmth of the blanket faded away.

At first we thought we could tough it out, but the cold reality was we were spoiled.  Even my husband who usually falls asleep as soon as his head touches the pillow missed that welcoming warmth.  It wasn't long before I was scouring the department stores, discount stores, and big-box home stores looking for an affordable replacement -- affordable being the key word.  Clearly the cost of an electric blanket had skyrocketed since Aunt Evelyn purchased ours in 1980!  Finally I found a blanket that was affordable and reasonably fashionable in an attractive shade of sage green (no more light blue and brown bedroom).

So tonight, when the temperature is predicted to hover around zero, I am very, very thankful for my electric blanket.  : )