Of sentimental value

I took home Murray, the black build-a-bear, because my boyfriend is leaving for Virginia for a week. I think it's funny that this small gesture creates a world of comfort to me. I know a week isn't a long time, but we've rarely been away from each other, and if we have, it's usually myself leaving. The longest I've been gone has been less than a week (a big change from last year's hyper-traveling).

So now I've got this adorable stuffed toy sitting next to me, in all his chubby delights, with a friendly little smile on his face. Even his scent reminds me of Rob. I appreciate that he can understand my attachment to stuffed toys. When I went to L.A. he took Ludwig, the monkey, and that was a measure of comfort for both of us, too. I guess it's something about knowing you've got an extension to the person you care about to substitute for the time being. Sure, it's just an inanimate thing. But the warmth comes from knowing it's something cherished by the person you care for; something they wouldn't just leave with you to abandon, but to come back to. It's an assurance too, I believe. And a demonstration that one trusts the other person to care for that cherished memento.

I'm going to miss him.