Reason 168

Bandaids. I have long been a believer in the healing powers of bandaids, both of actual physical pain and your garden variety emotional slumps. Since I was a small child in pigtails I have slapped adhesive bandages onto my abnormally pale skin when I needed a little pick me up, something to put a smile on my face when things weren't quite going my way. This fascination with bandaids may be genetic because I have a lovely memory of my brother covering his face and neck in sticky beige strips and reciting Shel Silverstein's ode to the rectangular healers for an elementary school event. Back then the only options in the bandaid aisle were flesh colored strips (which were really the color of tanned white folks - obviosuly, people of color do not bleed) or, maybe if you were shopping at a high pharmacy, ones that were see-through. It was a momentous day, indeed, when mom came home with a box of brightly colored bandaids! Nowadays fashion conscious bleeders have a plethora of designs to choose from (not to be confused with a plethora of pinatas) and can stock their medicine cabinets with bandaids covered in just about anything, from bacon to cartoon characters to unicorns. Why, as I write this entry Scooby Doo, colorful crayon and frosted cupcake bandages are all nestled together in my bathroom drawer waiting for me to cut myself, which happens rather frequently since I'm a bit of a klutz. Jason, you are more than welcome to rifle through my stash of hip adhesive strips when you're hanging out at my place and affix one or two or twelve to your body. I am happy to share the bandaid love. Just try not to bleed on my beige carpet. The crime scene look is definitely not as cool as rockin' a pirate on your pinkie.

super cool bandaids from Archie McPhee