"Bucky" (Old baby blanket)

Author's Note-My blanket from my childhood is what inspired this piece.



     Before I was born, at the baby shower, one of the gifts my parents were given was a white baby blanket. At that time you could see every stitch and design on the perfect bleach white blanket. It was always my favorite thing to have in my hands and put in my mouth like any baby would. "Bucky" was the first "word" I was able to say, because I couldn't pronounce blanket quite yet. I would call for "bucky" when I was crying, hungry, thirsty, or really anything, it was the only thing I knew at the time besides my mom and dad. I don't necessarily remember it, but I can see myself laying on the play-mats with a half circle of different toys above it and calling for my blanket. It's interesting to see how even though most of us can only remember very small portions of our childhood and baby life, we are told stories about us being little and we can picture and make out more of the story. Hearing them as you grow up makes you realize how fast time passes by and to enjoy life more instead of thinking about those moments every day that aren't the most enjoyable, it sucks that we can get into the habit of dreading those moments instead of enjoying and looking forward to the good ones, like even crawling into a cozy bed at night and watching your favorite show. 
     As time passed and I played with it or chewed on it, it started getting small holes throughout. What was the perfect, bleach white blanket with the stitching designs you could see clearly, began to discolor and tatter. I didn't care though, I still wanted it every day to chew and suck on. As time kept passing, seeming slower than it does now, where every day is like the blink of an eye, it became ripped and started getting little knots in it. I kept playing with it and I remember enjoying sucking and chewing on the small knots. Every day it became closer to being the ripped, tattered, big knot of strings it is today. I feel the life of the blanket somewhat represents growing up and starting to see the holes in the world until it becomes one big knot of tangled strings and pieces that we learn to live with and enjoy. 
     I grew up with that blanket and it will always be a staple for my childhood. I grew up with that blanket and it will always be a staple for my childhood. I used it until I was at least 7 or 8 probably to sleep every night. I ended up finding it in my closet when I was about 12 so I had it in my bed for a while again. I don't remember losing it, but it happened, and I was finally able to sleep without my "bucky" next to my face, cuddling with it to help me fall asleep.