It’s Gratituesday! Today I am grateful for one of the most brilliant gifts I ever received. You can’t imagine how surprised I was several years ago to unwrap a twin-sized electric blanket as one of my Christmas gifts from MSH. We have a king-sized bed. A twin-size anything made no sense. But then it did.
The vast expanse of a King Size Bed! (Photo credit: Grand Velas Riviera Maya)
The blue fluffy wire-lined blanket fit perfectly on my half of the bed. I discovered that very night the wisdom of such a gift.
MSH slumbers in a well chilled, open windowed bedroom, fresh air pouring over his overheated, restless body. For good measure he runs the ceiling fan as well. In such an environment I can only toss and turn and freeze, no matter how many blankets get heaped on top of me. But now, ah yes, now with my gift of electric heated bliss, I can choose to have the warmth of a cat snuggling up to me, or I can bask in the heat of a Sahara summer, or any climate in between.
This isn’t a winter only gift. Oh, no not at all. It is after all Phoenix, complete with heat islands and asphalt. Summers here are a sweltering desert. To survive we have air conditioning everywhere.
(Except for my car, usually the AC goes out on the first day of July. Not sure why. The infamous Tilby family car curse? But, I digress, that is another post.)
Unlike most households, we don’t just bring the temperature down to cool. MSH chills the house to the point that we all wear sweaters inside, except him. It’s comfortable for MSH and that is important. We love him and want him comfy, too. At night, the thermostat gets set even lower. As a result, my electric blanket often gets used in the summertime as well. Ah, sweet slumber.
I do think the electric blanket saved our marriage. Or at least it keeps me from finding another room to sleep in. Which would have made MSH feel sad and lonely, which would make me sad. His inspired gift to me makes me love him even more, and reminds me nightly of his consistent thoughtfulness in so many other ways.
All hail the lowly blue blanket, plugged in and enhancing relationships a few precious degrees at a time.
Kami's Beautiful Morning 
Awww. It’s it just a warm blankie, it’s a symbol that MSH was paying attention. Even warmer.
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Very true. He’s much more observant than I’d given him credit for. I love things that are symbolic.
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This is your Dad. I too, sleep with an electric blanket. It is really nice to crawl in a warm cozy bed when the templerature outside is around zero (which it has been a lot for several weeks). Not only is it nice to crawl in to a warm bed it is nice to spend about 30 minutes waking up before I have to get to up. I enjoy your blogs that your mother shares with me. Keep up the good work, Babe.
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I remember when we had that wood burning stove and you’d heat up those large stones to put in the foot of our bed between the sheets. That was such a nice, comforting way to be warm and drop off to sleep. The electric blanket I have often reminds me of that. Glad you enjoy my posts. Love ya!!
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Now it is your Mom speaking. Thanks so much for your writing. We look forward to each new one and marvel at the things you come up with the way you express yourself so beautifully!!
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Thanks mom! Sorry I haven’t been as consistent with my writing lately. Being sick has taken it’s toll on me and my brain power. I’ll get back to daily posts soon. Hope you are both well. Love ya!
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I’m sorry you have to live in a cold house. Is that partly why you’re sick? I have to wear a sweatshirt and socks with the thermostat at a toasty 71 degrees. I don’t do cold well. Thank goodness for your blanket. You were sorely missed at our meeting yesterday. Hope you’re feeling a lot better.
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No. The house is nice and warm during the day in the winter. I think I just breathed the wrong germs,(are there good germs?) I was sad to miss writer’s group yesterday. I’ve been doing a bunch of writing in my head, not so much on paper or on my computer as my slacking posts testify. Sigh. Improvement seems elusive in the health area.
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