Welcome to Rumble Strip, Vermont.

This is a show about love and objects, objects of great affection.

It's from a late night conversation with my friend Claire Dolan. It was the

week leading up to Valentine's Day and we were sitting on my couch talking about

all the kinds of love that don't get designated holidays.

The conversation starts with Claire's first friend in childhood, a small stuffed creature called Binnie. Here's Claire.

Binnie was a beanbag and so felt the right amount heavy and also forgiving,

like would move and sort of mold itself around my hand

and had weight. And then Binnie had this sweet little face that was just very neutral I think.

Benny has no gender. I could not tell you whetherinnie was a boy or a girl and really open eyes and a little

smile.

I don't, there was something perfect about Binnie it was this the perfect inviting

little creature that was willing to be my special friend

Like as soon as I saw Benny I knew that Benny was willing to be my special friend. Benny was an object that was open to me, waiting for me to come along.

Where did Benny come from?

Oh, Benny...

Benny...

Benny came from a gift shop.

I think featured Irish things.

Benny was a leprocon.

But I did not know that

for many, many, many years.

...