April 25, 2014
Dear Everyone:
I first started making Snuggle-Upples in 1989.
I was in some auto supply store, looking for something else
entirely, of course, when I happened to see a piece of
faux fur that
could be wrapped around the upper part of a typical 3-point car
seat
belt.
What a great idea, I thought.
It would be easy to make, just a bit of felt and faux fur and
some sew-in Velcro. And
everybody could use one.
Why? Let’s take a look at
your “typical 3-point car seat belt” for just a moment.
It starts behind the shoulder, goes “across the chest”, anchors
on the other side of the seat, then comes back “across the lap” to the
original side, same as the shoulder.
In the event of a crash, the seat belt clamps in place, holding
the accident victim to the seat so they don’t go flying through the
windshield. All well and
good.
Provided you’re a tall, flat-chested man.
These things are not designed to be worn by short people; and
they are most emphatically not
designed to be worn by women.
There’s a reason they are sometimes referred to as “booby-traps”.
Face it: They’re
uncomfortable to wear. That
“across the chest” part just means that it rubs against a person’s neck.
In fact, they’re so uncomfortable that the car’s Owner’s Manual
specifically warns against sliding the belt under your arm or behind
your back. That means that a
great many people have been doing exactly that, to their detriment in
the case of an accident.
(It is a well-known fact that accidents always happen to someone else,
never to oneself.)
One of my previous cars even mentioned, in the Owner’s Manual, the
dreaded “Comfort Clips”, as in “…do not install or use ‘comfort clips’
as they may interfere with the proper functioning of the belt…”
In other words, the manufacturers
knew they were putting out
cars with belts that people were trying to circumvent because the belts
were so uncomfortable. But
installing more comfortable belts would cost money, so they were
reserved only for the “luxury” models.
And as for the belts in the back seat:
They clearly require at least three hands, plus eyes in the back
of your head, to buckle into place.
Not exactly what you might call “practical”.
There is even a car commercial on TV, showing an elderly woman in
the back seat, trying to fasten her belt unsuccessfully, until her
grandson does it for her.
(“Buy our automobile! Comes
fully-equipped with a third-grader in the back seat to help Grandma!”)
This is why they had to make a law requiring manufacturers to include
the seat belts and requiring drivers and passengers to use them.
So, we’re all agreed:
Uncomfortable. Hence:
Nice “snuggly” piece of fur to wrap around the belt where it
meets the person’s neck.
Doesn’t interfere with the “proper functioning” of said belt.
I bought some faux fur in a variety of colors that year and proceeded to
make a pair for everyone in the family, plus friends and co-workers.
And I put together an “Owner’s Handbook”, explaining the
advantages and use of “Snuggle-Upples”, so-called because they “snuggle
up” to your neck when driving.
And the Pedigrees to go with them.
What I came to discover was that women tend to like Snuggle-Upples more
than men. This may, or may
not, be linked to the fact that men tend to be taller and more
flat-chested than women, relatively speaking.
Our Mother told me that she was driving some friend somewhere and, when
they got into Mother’s car, the friend exclaimed over the
Snuggle-Upples. How
wonderful! Where could she
get one? Mother promptly
walked over to our Dad’s car, took the Snuggle-Upple from his side and
presented it to the friend.
Dad never noticed that it was missing.
Some years later, Mother expressed a desire for a new pair of
Snuggle-Upples as the ones she had were getting “a little worn”.
Several other people chimed in, “Yeah!
I want new ones, too!”
So I made some more.
(I also noticed, with mild horror, how the seat belt had slowly sliced
through the felt “underside” of the Snuggle-Upple in my car when I
pulled it out to use as a pattern.
That’s what it does to your neck, too.)
Years passed, as they have a tendency to do.
When I mentioned last year that I had finally got myself a new
sewing machine, “Alice” sent an email congratulating me, and suggested
that I use it to make more Snuggle-Upples.
Which solved my Christmas Shopping for that year.
And now a whole new generation has been introduced to the beloved
Snuggle-Upples. When I was
making them up last year, I made some extra, just in case.
I still have a couple pair, if anybody needs some.
Love, as always,
Pete
PS. “Jeannie” and I will be
flying to Denver next week to attend the wedding of brother “Richard’s”
daughter, “Heloise”. So,
there will not be a Letter next week.
P.
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