A wool blanket?? In Antigua??? That's right! I'm probably the only crazy person who sleeps with a wool blanket in Antigua period, but a wool blanket in May?? Yep, that was me, until this week. I admit it's completely odd and I think it harkens back to my childhood sleeping habits. I'm one of those people who can't sleep without a blanket or something over me (I mean, I'm sure I could if I had to, but so far I haven't had to). Even in the hottest Antiguan summers I'm still curled up in at least a sheet.
Anyway, I think this has more to do with the need to have weight on me when I sleep as opposed to any real notion of warmth. It's probably also a comfort thing too. In any case, this can all be traced to my childhood sleeping habits...
Here I am all tucked safely in bed with my New Kids on the Block sheets. I may or may not have given Joey McIntyre (on the right) a goodnight peck each night. In any case...
Growing up in the wild hinterlands of North America, my family did not have central heating in our house. Therefore, upstairs, where my bedroom resided, was heated only by space heaters and blankets. Eventually my father put in some insulation and that helped, but by then I was about 10 or 11, so my sleeping habits had been firmly established. That is, I was used to an extraordinary amount of blankets.
As you can see, at least four layers of cloth were a part of my nightly sleeping routine for most of the year. These layers included a sheet, at least one crocheted blanket that either my mother or grandmother had made, an ugly flowered bedspread that itched, and a wool army blanket. The wool blanket was key. I remember it being extremely heavy and it was also warm! What about the summer, you may ask? Well we had a window air conditioning unit for upstairs, so I would still be able to use my blankets in comfort even in the summer (though I'm sure I shed the wool blanket).
This issue of tons of blankets only got worse as I got older, moved out of my parents' house and into an apartment that was more poorly insulated than my parents' house. The place was so bad, in the winter I had to put plastic wrap on the windows to keep the draft out and try to keep my heating bill down.
As you can see, the number of blankets I was forced to use almost doubled! I upgraded from the itchy, ugly floral bedspread to a matching sheet and comforter set from Target (pronounced Tarjay). But, in the absence of my trusty wool blanket I was forced to compensate with the ultimate, thick crocheted blanket from my grandmother, a knit blanket featuring a very obnoxious flag, and TWO fleece blankets. My cat, that I had acquired for her ability to kill mice that would enter my apartment on the first snowfall, would wiggle her way to the foot of the bed, but she at least kept my feet warm.
Thus, I have been accustomed to a large number of blankets for most of my life. Clearly this would not be a habit I would shed merely because the weather is a little warmer here.
Case in point:
Last week, during the chilly rain storms (and for most of the past few months), I have slept with the following blanket arrangement. You'll note the diminishing quantity of blankets (only 3 layers now!), but I have managed to secure a wool blanket here in Antigua! Another army blanket, this one is not as heavy as the one I used as a child, but it's still a wool blanket. I know, I know, I'm crazy, but I like it. It's warm and cozy.
Lately, though, it's been hot. The rain stopped and it's been hazy and humid as the temperatures creep into the high 20s (or 80s). Therefore, I've conceded it's time to put away the wool blanket until next winter.
I won't shun my sheet and duvet though. Boyfriend, on the other hand, prefers to sleep like this all year:
Growing up in warmer climes, he doesn't need the comfort of multiple blankets, which works out well because then we don't have to fight over them. =D
Un caloroso saluto...ciao
ReplyDelete