Dear Reader:

There is something so adorable about Linus and his security blue blanket that touches everyone… in their own insecure spots.

He first appeared on television in 1952 carrying his blue blanket but never spoke until 1954. He is, of course, Linus Van Pelt, Lucy’s younger brother. About this character…Charles Schulz explained:

The character’s creator, Charles Schulz, said:  “Linus, my serious side, is the house intellectual, bright, well-informed which, I suppose may contribute to his feelings of insecurity.”

Lee Mendelson, producer of the majority of the Peanuts television specials, has said that Linus is his favorite character: “He made sucking your thumb and holding a security blanket OK. I think he’s one of the most original fictional characters of all time—blending childish behavior with great wisdom.”

I was also drawn to Linus too, growing up, since I was a fellow blue blanket thumb sucker…my blue blanket was a blue satin pillow case that I took off each morning and dragged around with me all day…  then promptly put it back on my pillow at night. (*Mother finally bought a second blue satin pillow case that was not allowed to be removed… so there was at least a hint of  some clean hygiene while sleeping.)

As a grandmother today…I also have a ‘Linus Van Pelt’ a.k.a. Jakie. Bless his heart…he really tries to give up his blue ‘blankie’ called “night night.” He proudly told me… on our shared birthday last year… he was going to…but the pressures of kindergarten must have stunted his efforts…he is still desperately hanging on to the shredded rags of “night night” …Mandy expects it to have dissolved into nothingness every time she removes it from the washing machine. Still…it lives!

What has made my mind turn back to Linus, lately, is my favorite electric lap blue blanket… that has proven to be my saving grace this cold, wet winter so far.

When I got my electric bill last month…I shuddered…mainly because I had it set on 72 degrees (still felt cool in the house) and the bill was the highest yet…ever! I gulped and decided to try the 68 degrees… as suggested by the electric company.

(*Don’t you wonder if the top executives …who write these “suggestions”… for their electric utility companies… keep their own houses down that low on the thermostat? I ponder this in my mind…)

It’s probably because I have an old drafty house but still at 68 degrees I have to wear thick socks and “Yes your grandmother does wear combat boots” around the house… for my toes are frozen. I have to keep sitting on my hands to warm my fingers and stay buried in “Pinkie the robe” over whatever other layers of clothes I have on.

But still…I have remained cold. However…while rummaging through the hall closet recently…there it was…the answer to my freezing house…my sorta new blue lap electric blanket. I had already been using a heating pad in my recliner to help ward off the cold in the evenings but now I also plugged in the lap top blanket.

That first evening… I was getting skewered on the bottom and top simultaneously…and loving it! I do think I heard the “Hallelujah Chorus” singing….

It was the closest thing to a spiritual glimpse of heaven as I think I will ever get on earth.  It was really more of a spiritual feeling!*( It was definitely a different glimpse than John had in Revelations.:)

If that first moment…when I pass on to Glory…(fingers crossed) feels anything half as good as the combo heating pad and electric lap blanket…then all I’ve got to say is “Take me home Jesus!” 🙂

So until tomorrow…

Wishing everyone a warm-loving winter day!

“Today is my favorite day”  Winnie the Pooh

My “Rock of Ages” Happy Recliner for Cold Nights