Everyone had a favorite baby blanket or stuffed animal as a child. Mine was a small green blanket with little animals on it. There was also a small patch ironed on in one of the corners; I think it might have been He-Man or G.I. Joe. As a kid I never slept a night without it, even taking it to sleep-overs. I can still remember holding it up to my face as I sucked on my thumb.

The blanket always had this very distinct smell to it, no matter how long it had been since it was washed or if it was washed 5 minutes before. It always smelled the same and to this day I can still recall it. I wish I still had the blanket, but Mom or Dad left it in a hotel room a few years back. It’s a shame that someone probably threw it in the trash. Something that meant so much to me, meant absolutely nothing to the cleaning lady. There are nights I go to bed wishing I had my “blanky” at my side.

Maybe it’s the smell I long for.

Maybe it’s the memories of my childhood.

Maybe I’m just getting old.