The Day We Lost Becky

When Alex was around 13 months old, he became very attached to a special blue and white checked baby blanket.  It was a gift from Hazel, my high school librarian.  Hazel is a favorite person of mine, so the blanket had a special sentimental value to me as well.  For some reason, Alex decided that this blanket was his best friend. He named the blanket “Becky” and no other blanket had the magical, soothing properties of his Becky.  Needless to say, wherever he went, Becky went, too.  My husband and I would get stares from people when one of us would frantically shout, “Where’s Becky?  I can’t find Becky!” as though Becky was our second child and we’d somehow misplaced her.  We were diligent about keeping track of Becky wherever we went.  We did everything short of issuing an Amber Alert if we couldn't find Becky.

When Alex was 2 1/2, My husband had a business trip in Japan, so we tagged along.  The first weekend we were there, we took a train trip to a hot springs in Niigata.  After a relaxing visit, we boarded the train back to Tokyo. We were halfway from Niigata to Tokyo on the Shinkansen, the high-speed bullet train, when we realized that Becky was nowhere to be found.  We searched every piece of luggage and under every seat in the vicinity until we realized that we hadn't seen Becky since we left Niigata.  The Japanese passengers were alternately amused and annoyed with us as we searched high and low.  We both started to sweat when we realized that we had lost the thing our son loved most in the entire world.  Alex was sobbing and shouting, "Becky! Becky! Becky!"

We had Japan Rail Passes and no appointments in Tokyo, so we did what we had to do.  We got off at the next station and caught the next train back to Niigata.   Alex cheered up a bit, at the thought of the reunion with his beloved.

Feeling like complete losers, we backtracked to the train station and searched all the shops we’d visited.  Frank tried to call the hotel and ask them to look for a "ba-bee blanketto" in our room, but they could not figure out what he was talking about.  My Japanese is limited to domo arigato (thank you) and toire wa doko desu-ka? (where is the bathroom?), so I was no help at all.

During our frantic search of the last sake shop we visited (now you know where our priorities are), the kindly store manager took pity on us and tried to help.  He enlisted the train station security guards to comb the train station and trash cans, and he called the hotel to ask them to look for the blanket for us.  The hotel had the housekeepers search our room, but to no avail.  The store manager obviously had small kids, because despite our language barrier, he understood the importance of finding Becky.  After several hours, we finally called off the search and took our tearful toddler back to Tokyo.  We bought him a new blanket at Tokyo Disneyland, but it was not the same.  Even now, four years later, he still gets a little misty-eyed when he sees pictures of himself snuggled up with his long-lost Becky.  We are convinced that Alex's future wife will be named “Becky”.

If your child has a special “Becky” and you are traveling, be sure to find a duplicate and leave it at home.  For months after we lost Becky, I scoured the internet and eBay in search of another blanket like this one, and couldn't find it.  Some families have a special “travel pal” stuffed animal that is only for trips, along with a back-up.  We adopted a small stuffed bear named Charlie for this purpose after the Becky incident.  Charlie was abandoned after a couple of trips, because once  you've loved and lost a Becky, there is apparently no substitute.

Photo:  Alex being comforted by Becky in Bermuda, 2002.

Comments

[Rachel]

Sad story. I would say I can't believe you went to so much trouble. . . but I can. Those lovies are so important. Thanks for the reminder to buy a back-up.

[Elizabeth]

That is the saddest story! Did you ever ask Hazel where she got the blanket and try to get another one?

Madge over at Mainely Madge has a similar story about a flat, stuffed bear that came in a gift basket when her daughter was born, and they named it Pancake. It became so important to her daughter that they tracked down where to buy it and bought 4 more!

[Glennia]

The blanket was from K-Mart's Martha Stewart Baby Collection. I searched every K-Mart within a 50 mile radius, and had my mom look for one in Ohio. Unfortunately, they had discontinued it by the time we lost it. That's why I ended up searching eBay.

What makes this even sadder is that I read this story to Alex (now 6 1/2) and his eyes welled up with tears. He said, "I still miss my Becky!" and ran out of the room to look for a blanket. I think I reopened the old wound.

[Stu Mark]

This post has been nominated for GNMParents Hot Stuff Of The Week!

http://www.gnmparents.com/hot-stuff-vote-for-your-favorite-2/

Congratulations, and yes, it's ok to vote for yourself! :-)

Good luck, and great post,

Stu Mark
Editor - GNMParents

http://www.gnmparents.com/

[bonggamom]

I love this post! My son also has a blankie named Tati. It's pink and bedraggled and more often than not in need of a wash, but he loves it to bits. I can't think what we'd do if he lost it! I wonder if his future wife will be named Tati.

[Greatexpectations]

The one good thing about sending kids to day care -- at least in this regard -- is the need to have a backup. We have 2 of each lovey for both girls. When we go on trips, we leave one home. I had hoped to avoid taking the lovey out of the house, but now I realize that is just not going to happen. They are growing more and more attached. Very cute.

[The Aitch]

I know the importance of a Becky. My toddler has always had a "Lovey" as long as it's pink with satin trim she is fine. It's easy enough to find those kind of blankets so I have stockpiles at home for when it's time to wash or if we lose one.... and that pic is sooo cute!