The Winter White Wool Coat

I don't remember how I old I was, but there was one year in high school that I decided I wanted a full length winter white wool coat. Since it was going to cost a little more than our standard issue, Dad had to make the final approval.

I went to Dad and asked, explained the do-or-die necessity of this grand investment, and he finally agreed with the following stipulation: it had to be made in America.

So, off to the Charleston Town Center mall we went. After searching the racks of the various stores, I walked in to the final place and the clear blue sky rolled back giving way to the Heavenly choir's "Hallelujah Chorus," and there hung the perfect--PERFECT--winter white wool coat. It was floor length, lined with silk, pleated in the back from the collar down, with flawless subtle tan buttons. Oh, it was a glorious find, and I was going to look like a million bucks.

I bought it right there and we drove the hour home. As I unwrapped this brilliant piece of fashion iconism and carefully placed it out on my bed, my brother looked over my shoulder and asked, "Is it made in the USA?"

I'm not saying it was right or it was wrong, but sometimes a girl's just got to have her 80's winter white wool coat. When you know it is right, sometimes you just have to do what you have to do and figure the rest out later. I said, "Well, if it's not, then I'll cut the tag out."

I checked tag there was it was: Made in the USA.

Life lesson learned.

-b

p.s. I had never planned to mention the whole thing to Dad until my brother so helpfully retold the story at Christmas. And, the truth is, I had been so overcome with perfection that I'd totally forgotten to look. I'm really not a bad person, Dad.