Bag Balm, My Love
In its first incarnation this was essentially an 800-word mash note to Bag Balm. I wrote it with the New York Times’ “Letter of Recommendation” in mind, but the editor passed on it. Since the odds of finding a publication that would be interested in a paean to an ointment originally developed for using on cows’ udders were slim to none, I reworked it to include other self-care products with rural beginnings. Bag Balm still gets the most words, though, and it will always have a place on my bathroom shelf and in my heart.
The 1-ounce tin shortly after I bought it, in the spring of 2017. Almost four years later, there’s still a little left.
