Stop. Change!

voltee ♦ February 6, 2011 ♦ 2 Comments

Item: Coat Color/Fabric: Tan, suede Designer: ?? Where Purchased: A Thrift store, unknown Years Owned: At least 10
I feel like my brain has turned off. I’m not sure of the reason for this happenstance; perhaps I’ve scared it away. Or maybe it got sick of my whining about everything all the time. I just don’t know. But it has really not been working at full capacity for quite some time.
Maybe I just need more sleep. Says the girl who is up beyond midnight to write about an old suede coat.
I just feel like it’s not going to happen tonight. The sleeping, I mean. It is such an elusive, crafty creature. The more I want it, the less of it I get.
Anyway, tonight I had a lovely impromptu girls night with Annie and Vicki. It was very relaxed, as we are all busy and tired. We watched All That Jazz, which is much more strange and much less musical than I thought it would be. I found it very interesting, and I think this coat would have looked great in it.
It might have even come from the movie. I don’t remember where I got it, nor when. But I’ve had it forever.
It is a surprisingly warm and weighty coat. I think it might weigh five pounds. It’s heavy. But I haven’t worn it all that often. Mostly because the suede is old and stiff, and hard to button. It is a finger workout to maneuver the buttons into their proper homes, and sometimes I just haven’t got the strength!
When I pulled this out today, I did the first thing I have done each time I brought out a coat these last few week. I went through the pockets. This time I found a movie ticket.
Apparently, I wore this in 2005 to go see Star Wars, Episode 3; Revenge Of The Sith. We went to the midnight showing with a gaggle of IMBers. It seemed like an appropriate event to wear a suede trench coat.
Many other people found it appropriate to dress up as Sith Lords.
To each his own.
That was a fun night, as it always is with Nate’s co-workers.
The other time I remember wearing this was the only time I’ve ever gone to New York City on my own. I had to go pick up tickets to the MTV Woodie Awards, (an event I wrote about here) and it could only be done the day before the event. And so I left work early and hopped on a train.
It was exhilarating.
When I came out at Grand Central Station, I felt dazed, even though I had been there so many times before. It was unbelievable to me that just a few short hours before I was in Kingston, and working. And now, a whole new world!
I felt a new and welcome sort of confidence as I maneuvered the streets on my own.
I made a quick stop in time square, where the March wind whipped and tore ruthlessly. I felt very sheltered by my heavy suede coat.
I had made a date to meet Kevin, who was working in the city. We had just said “Times Square,” without feeling the need to be more specific.
Once I was there amidst the neon and the car horns and the camera flashes and the super heroes and the paper pawners, I felt that it was very unlikely that we would ever find each other.
And then, as I stood right at the point of the square, I turned, my hair blowing across my face, and then I saw my friend, rushing towards me. It was like a movie, like we had not seen each other in years. A happy reunion!
Kevin walked me to the theater to get my tickets, and then had to go off to work. I think that I picked up some food, and headed back home.
Such a simple journey.
Nothing exciting really happened.
But it was a magical day, just the same. I don’t know why.
There was just something about being in the city on my own that made my heart happy. I felt like an adult. I felt capable.
I always imagined going more, bringing my laptop, finding fun and inspiring places to write. I just never found the time to do it. Maybe I will try again.
I think maybe is a word I use all too frequently.
As for the coat, well. I like it. I don’t think I’ve worn it since. But I love vintage pieces, and I think it looks great on Trixie. It might be time to dust it off a bit.

**I am still intrigued by this. I think I should hang on to it for a bit.