Journey to the Jellystore

Shopping for Jellycats, when a good friend and a credit card is all you really need.

Okay.

This might have been the best day of my entire life.

A few months ago, my friend and I discovered that the Indigo bookstore on Robson Street has a voluptuous supply of Jellycat plushies in stock. Given that the store is downtown, we decided that when we had some time, we would make a day out of it and treat ourselves to some Jellycats. But, as life as a students tends to go, we struggled to find that time and we were forced to put the Journey to the Jellystore on hold for a little while. And so reading break turns the corner, and before you could say Beebee the following conversation took place:

“I need me a reading break I’ve been losing my mind these past few weeks”
“Simon Fraser is really wearing thin on me”

“yeah no same here”
“i can’t wait i just want to sleep all week”
“WAIT”
“WAIT”
“jelly store???????????”
“during reading week!!?!??? please!!!!???

“Could that be Wednesday???”

“yes!!!?!!!!!!!”

“🤔🤔🤔🤔”
“That’s definitely in the cards”

“👀 👀 👀 👀 👀 👀 👀 “

Despite the question “jelly store??????????? during reading week!!?!??? please!!!!???”, it really wasn’t much of a question at all and he did not have a choice in the matter. We were GOING shopping for Jellycats, whether he liked it or not. And so…

Wednesday, February 22nd, 2023. In the middle of a peaceful break from school, an adventure downtown with a friend to go Jellycat shopping. Does it get any better than this?

I don’t think so.

I spent my morning at the gym and the library, getting my lift and my studies out of the way before my day really began. 1:00pm rolls around and my friend picks me up from the library and drives us to Commercial, where we hop on the Skytrain and commence the Journey. Despite the biting winds and chilly temperature, I’ve never felt more warm and fuzzy, and bursting with excitement! After a short walk from the station to the bookstore, we climbed a set of stairs to the upper floor where we were presented with Everything A Girl Could Possibly Hope For.

A Jellycat Display.

Yes. Jellycats are advertised as toys for infants, suggested by the poster of the literal baby and the racks of baby clothes. But that wasn’t going to stop me! When travelling downtown, the biggest gamble was whether or not the store would have the sandwich. My friend and I have discussed his profound desire for the sandwich ever since the day he laid eyes on it on the website. And so walking up to the display table where a row of sandwiches lay before him was probably the greatest moment of his life. Though I can’t say for sure.

I decided to browse a little bit, as I had no specific Jellycat in mind to purchase, aside from Edward Bear which I knew they didn’t have in stock. After battling with what Jelly to buy for far too long, I narrowed it down to the following:

Amusable Popcorn, Bashful Giraffe, and Bashful Turtle

Popcorn because he’s awesome, giraffe because it was impossibly soft, and turtle because… just look at that face <3

It was quite a struggle. I stood there for ages going back and forth between the ones I wanted. I paced around a while, looking around a little more to make sure I hadn’t missed any Jellies, and it was then that I had a good proper look at the Amusable Toast. Quite large, soft, and priced at an ABSOLUTE steal. I couldn’t possibly turn it down! But I still wanted one of my three prior options…

After what felt like an endless battle, I left a proud owner of an Amusable Toast and Amusable Popcorn.

It’s like I went grocery shopping. Very VERY expensive groceries.

We are NOT going to talk about how much it costed me to buy that toast and popcorn.

So don’t ask.

But it was worth it.

And after I tossed the little receipt in the bag, it was out of sight out of mind!

Money spent, sure. But not money wasted.

I didn’t think the day could possibly get better, until we decided to grab some soup for lunch and I indulged in some of the best soup and buttered baguette I’ve ever had. Nothing like hot soup on a cold day! With a bag of Jelly babies! It truly can’t get better than this!

Or can it…

The Jellycat Journey STILL wasn’t over. We got back to the car and made our way home with a little pit-stop on the way.

We had to hit the bedding store and as my friend shopped around for a new duvet cover, I was presented with YET ANOTHER Jellycat display in the store!!! What a pleasant and unexpected surprise! I was in such a state of shock that I forgot to snap a photo, but there were many lovely Jellies, including but not limited to the Bashful Monkey, Fuddlewuddle Lamb, Ricky Rain Frog, Riverside Rambler Fox and Riverside Rambler Mole! I desperately wanted one of those Riverside Ramblers but alas… my Jellycat dollars were already well spent.

As the most perfect day in history came to a close, I returned home to my warm cozy bed, where I had the pleasure of giving the toast and popcorn a true home. I sent pictures of my beloved new Jellies to just about everyone I know, and over multiple conversations, graced them with the names Jimmy (toast) and Patrick (popcorn). My prized possessions and darling treasures.

Upon some deep reflection, I think the Journey to the Jellystore is one big, beautiful metaphor for friendship. Only a real one would travel with you in the freezing cold out to the dreadful streets of downtown Vancouver. Only a real one would put up with your childlike whining and indecisiveness over stuffed plushie foods. Only a real one would share the pain of dropping a hot dollar on a Jellycat with you.
And so sure. Maybe Jimmy and Patrick were a hit to my bank account. Maybe I spent a lot of money on these little treasures. Maybe it was a long and cold journey for what to most, seems like a small reward. But maybe it was never about the money. Maybe it was never even about the stuffies!

Maybe the real treasure was the friends we made along the way.