Snapping back into reality

Why do the silliest of things bring memories rushing back into our minds? I will never figure this out!

I had yet another episode of this yesterday when I discovered a rubber band in the pocket of my jeans. ...

I call this particular pair of jeans my "fat" jeans. Though I'm still quite far from being svelte, I wore these jeans when I was 20 lbs. heavier and never got rid of them. They're roomy and soft and totally broken in. Plus, I was able to wear these jeans through the first six months of my pregnancy with Ryan. I decided to wear these jeans again yesterday because I was feeling like a bloated mess due to my "monthly bill" and knew I wouldn't feel restricted the way I would in my regular pants.

After a visit to the restroom, I was putting myself back together, pushing my pockets back into position when I discovered "something" in my pocket. I wasn't sure what was in there, so I scooped out the contents of my pocket. When I opened my hand, there was a sizable tuft of lint, a "to do" list for myself, and a rubber band.

And it suddenly hit me why there was a rubber band in my pocket.

In order to wear these jeans with my ever-expanding Ryan belly, it became necessary to loop a rubber band through the button hole and slide the loop over the metal button, expanding the waistband just enough to make the jeans wearable. After I was finished wearing them, I'd tuck the rubber band in the right-hand pocket for the next time.

This rubber band had remained in that pocket through several laundry-washings and pocket-emptyings.

I looked at it for a few seconds and decided it needed to go back into my pocket for safekeeping.

As I was getting ready for bed last night, I instinctively reached into my pockets and again discovered this rubber band. I looked at it, smiled to myself, and played with it, wondering what I should do with this quirky reminder of happier times.

I walked into Ryan's room, opened his keepsake box, and placed the rubber band next to one of the "It's A Boy" bubble-gum cigars I had put aside when we found out we were having a little boy. Content that I had found the perfect place for this unusual memento, I said goodnight to Ryan and hopped into bed.

Now I'll know where to find that silly rubber band if and when I need to accommodate a bulging baby belly in the future, fingers crossed.