Now and then it is a joy to have one’s table red with wine and roses. ~Oscar Wilde

The other morning, I sat down to work at my desk. There was a slight chill in my office so I reached over and grabbed my yellow chenille throw blanket to drape over my shoulders. I love the soft feel of the butter yellow yarn and the tickle of the fringe against my skin; it makes me feel warm and happy.

I remember falling in love with the blanket when I was in Pottery Barn shopping with my Mom about 15 years ago. I saw it and immediately envisioned it on my chair or draped over the bed. When I saw the “Dry Clean only” label my heart sunk. It sunk even lower when I saw the price.

“What’s wrong?” my Mom had asked when I put the blanket down and walked away.

“It’s dry clean only and it’s expensive.” I had replied.

“And?” she probed.

“I have a baby. I don’t need anything that expensive that is “Dry Clean only.” I explained.

“But you love it!” she pushed.

I couldn’t bring myself to buy it. As I walked toward the front of the store, my Mom picked it up and purchased it for me.

“A gift.” she simply stated as she gave me her famous smile.

For the longest time, that blanket sat primly on display draped over the back of my favorite chair; I never used it. In my mind, it was still “Dry Clean only” and “Too Expensive” to use each day.

When I was recovering from my pulmonary embolism, my Mom came to take care of me.

One afternoon she tucked the butter yellow blanket over me to keep me warm. I admit to her I never used it and my silly reasoning why I wasn’t using it.

My mom laughed and said she used to be the same way: not using her fine china, wearing her diamonds, or burning her “good” candles until she realized how ridiculous it was.

“Why wait for special occasions to use the things you love? Every day is a special gift. Why not use them now?” she asked.

Those words of wisdom seem a lifetime ago. I no longer wait for special occasions to pull out our good china, put on a pretty dress, wear my Mom’s diamond bracelet, or enjoy an expensive bottle of wine.

Life is too short to let the special things sit unused and unappreciated, I remind myself as I pull the butter yellow blanket tighter around my shoulders and enjoy the gift of a new day.