Today was wash day for my puffy coat. Having a good lightweight down filled jacket that’s black and doesn’t show dirt is a good functional decision for someone with a frenetic life. I have to use logic and remind myself it’s about time for a good wash because the coat is not going to ask for it. The black hides everything.
I started the washing machine, filling it with lukewarm water and soap while I emptied the pockets in my coat. Interestingly, ten-year-old Beth was at that very moment changing from her ballet leotard to her play clothes. I pulled one of her undershirts out of my coat pocket. “You need this?” I asked, and of course she did. (I have no idea why her training bra was in my coat pocket.). Then I emptied the rest: a handful of receipts, a few concert tickets, piece of gum, one of the grandkids backpack key tags, half a Tylenol, pocket change, two Life Savers, a folded Band-aid, a screw, a floss pick and a safety pin. Don't judge me.
Since I was in the mindset of washing coats, I went out to the locker room to get Dave’s jackets to wash as well. I pulled out of his locker two coats and one vest. On my way back to the laundry I checked his pockets and here’s what I found:
Nothing.
Seriously, three jackets he wears regularly and not one of them had anything in the pockets!
You think you know someone!
Who would have perfectly good pockets completely at their disposal and not use them to hold stuff? For emergency’s sake, if nothing else? Not even a tissue, or a piece of gum. Not one penny or emergency Band Aid or even a golf pencil.
I am again reminded that he is the Yin to my Yang.
And I am excessively Yangy!
Now be honest, if you were lost in a forest and had a runny nose, needed to pin a note to a tree for help, were starving and scared and thought you might leave a path of coins for someone to follow to find you, what would you want to have in your pockets?
I like to carry my “just in case” with me. Plus, when I’ve washed my little’s training bra and need to remember to take it to her house, the pocket’s the place. Nice deep pockets in a soft black jacket.
Stick with me, folks, just in case!
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| I've read too many Reader's Digest stories of survival. |
