Last night my sweet 6 year old called me into her room at bedtime to talk to me about something she had been pondering.  "Mom, some of the kids at school don't think you can be friends with your pillow or blanket, are they right ?"  Taking this question very seriously, I answered that friends come in all shapes, sizes and colors.  And the most important thing about true friends is that they will always comfort you in your time of need.  Now that time might be when you are scared, sad, or just settling down in a nice comfortable bed.  In Maisie's case, her blanket (made exclusively for her by the wonderful textile artist Paige Hathaway Thorn) has been a source of comfort since day 1.  Here she is sleeping on our first night at a family with blanket.  That picture was taken June 28, 2004.  Blanket was bright fuschia and orange, decorated with beautiful gold butterflies.  Today, blanket is but a shell of herself.  Faded and worn away by her owner's loving hands.  Maisie doesn't notice that blanket is looking a little long in the tooth these days.  She doesn't notice that she's tattered and torn beyond any normal repair.  All she sees is a friend who comforts her through the night.  A friend that will wrap itself around any worries or loneliness... a friend who will greet her every morning, until one day she won't be needed any more (yes Blanket is a girl)... but she will understand.  Because that's what true friends do.