In appreciation of.............

Christmas has become a distany memory, although for many of us, the bills remain. Another lingering part of Christmas may or may not be hanging around your house at this time too. With all the online shopping packaging and protection of delicate ornaments and memories taking place, most of us have at least one piece of protective packaging laying around. The most adored, and probably endangered, of these is air cellular cushioning material also known the world over by it's original trade name of Bubble Wrap®. That right folks, today is official Bubble Wrap® appreciation day!

It has the magical power of protecting items contained within it's secure grasp from the destructive forces of postal carries and couriers the world over. I've often considered trying to construct a car out of the stuff, although the ensuing noise from any collision would be deafening! This funky sheeting was created like most of my favourite inventions, completely by accident. It began when a couple of science types named Alfred Fielding and Marc Chavannes got together in 1957 to create a textured plastic wallpaper that could be easily washed. To their absolute dismay they realized that nobody was too interested in their bumpy wallpaper of choice, but also realized that this failed wallpaper had a far nobler calling.

At that time there was only paper as an option when packing items for shipping. Paper doesn't stand a chance of protecting really heavy stuff or even incredibly delicate items so the wallpaper was used to surround and protect as never before. The product resulted in the creation of a company that stands to this very day. They have refined and tweaked their manufacturing to their patented method that is used today.

Just as the original use failed and the new use was unplanned but quite welcome, there is yet another application for this renowned packing material that the creators never foresaw! Therapy. How many of us, when confronted by a piece of bubble wrap, can resist it's siren song? Gently calling to our very souls to squeeze our cares away until they are blown away by the tiny puff of air that is released with a satisfying pop. If you can't find any nearby and are having one of those days you should really consider some virtual bubble wrap to hold you over.

It's appeal was so universal that back in 2001 "Spirit 95" Radio in Bloomington, IN started Bubble Wrap® Appreciation Day. They even held their first annual Bubblympiad, which featured spectacular feats of human achievement like the Bubble Wrap® popping relay and Pop-A-Mole along with some creative expressions in the form of sculpture and fashion design contests.

Track down a sheet, warm up your thumbs and get ready to celebrate.

Appreciate it dammit!!