Tuesday, April 26, 2005

THE MAGICAL RED VELVET JACKET

Have I mentioned in this blog that at times I feel I live a charmed life?  Sometimes. Not all the time. Things just happen to me. Good things. They occur with frequency. I attribute it to my Mom, who has the ear of God, and  is as devout a Catholic as ever lived, probably is a saint (three miracle rule) and prays fervently for her family.

I had this red velvet jacket way back in the 1970's that I loved and lived in. I must have worn that thing from 1972 till it fell apart in 1977. Amazing how you remember dates, isn't it. The above picture is 1975. I can not recall the name of anyone in that photo but the party was at Piff's house and those were some top notch Murray parties.

The jacket was in every way my signature piece of clothing. When the elbows became ragged, my Mom lovingly applied patches for me. The lining, which was ripped up, trashed and a disgrace suffered an unrecoverable blow during the Christmas holidays. Mom thought she would replace the lining as a surprise. A surprise alright! The jacket was not the same. It did not hang right, it bunched up under my arms, the  worn marks and holes were covered up. In other words, it was ruined. I could not bring myself to wear it ever again. It remained in the back of a closet in my Mothers home for many years. I looked for it last year after mentioning it in a journal entry. It was gone. Thrown away long ago. Lost forever.

I love Goodwill, Salvation Army, Thrift stores. I find such great stuff for a fraction of the price they are worth. I look there first when I need something, see if someone else's trash can become my treasure.

I was stunned. I could not believe it. My hands were methodically moving the jackets to the left as I plowed through the long row when I happened upon a red velvet jacket. I let my hand caress the red velvet on the sleeve before I had the nerve to pull it out

There, waiting for me, was my old friend!

It seems impossible, but it is the exact jacket. I wore it for five years, I'd recognize it anywhere.This jacket has no label, nothing to indicate anything about it. Not a worn mark on it anywhere. Does not smell old, forgotten nor abandoned. It was just waiting for me to reclaim.

I'm not sure what it means,if it means anything at all. It just has made me so incredibly happy on this wet, rainy, lonely day.

31 comments:

Anonymous said...

An angel sent it to you. Wear it in good health.  Anne

Anonymous said...

OH what a blessing. I love that  you had such charm in your life. How neat.

Anonymous said...

What a GREAT story!  I too peruse thrift shops and often wonder what my chances are that I'll find something I discarded years ago.  What a special gift Mary!

Anonymous said...

What a find! And what a story! You have a way of telling a story that makes it tug the heartstrings!

Anonymous said...

I've found one-of-a-kind things like that on Ebay.  I had some precious bookends I lost in a move some 40 years ago, and found the identical ones on Ebay.  I've done searches ever since, and NEVER have seen them offered again.  Oh, and I was the only bidder, so I got them cheap.

Anonymous said...

IT was meant to be...maybe a gift from your Mom.

Anonymous said...

What a great find! Talk about serendipity!

Anonymous said...

What a charming story!
Judith
http://journals.aol.com/jtuwliens/MirrorMirrorontheWall

Anonymous said...

It was your mom's fourth miracle!
marti

Anonymous said...

Awesome! definitely a charmed event...

Anonymous said...

I have, from time to time, come upon pieces of old clothing that I have donated to thrift stores.  But never something thirty years old.  You do indeed lead a charmed life, Ms. Mary!  Lisa  :-]  

Anonymous said...

I think just like my radio it was a gift from someone. Think about it.

Anonymous said...

OK, now let's see it on you!
  *** Coy ***


Anonymous said...

What a great find!  It MUST mean something...JAE

Anonymous said...

this is indeed a very sweet entry. I hope that things come back to us when we most need them. judi

Anonymous said...

It must have come back to beg for a new, professional lining!
xoxo

Anonymous said...

Well...how cool is that!!!
Connie

Anonymous said...

Now that's a blast from the past!!!  :0
~Dona

Anonymous said...

This is THEE same jacket that your mom relined? WoW!

Monica
http://journals.aol.com/photographybymon/Mamarazzi/
http://journals.aol.com/sonensmilinmon/SmilinMonsAdventures/

Anonymous said...

Wow...that is amazing...I hope you are wearing that red jacket right now and are happy as can be!

Anonymous said...

that is so cool!  :-)

~  www.jerseygirljournal.com

Anonymous said...

The actual jacket??? That's amazing! You do live a charmed life - somedays. ;-)
---Robbie

Anonymous said...

    Wonderful journal! I've been looking for it since you read mine. I'll be back often.
Jude
http://journals.aol.com/JMoranCoyle/MyWay

Anonymous said...

Well, that jacket was meant to come back to you, that's for sure!!!  Amazing story. Glad you got your old friend back.  Ask you mum to say a couple of prayers for me would you, as she has the ear of God.

Anonymous said...

Talk about Fate! You and that red velvet jacket were meant for each other. This was a great story...I loved it!

Anonymous said...

This is such an upbeat entry.  I love it.  Life goes in circles, doesn't it?  The circle of the jacket is complete.  Beautiful.  Pennie

Anonymous said...

I swear...  I had a jacket just like this when I was younger.  Wore it everyday....  my mom threatened to burn it.  Mine didn't have near the sentimenatl value yours did, but I never saw anyone else wear one, and had forgotten mine.  Very col to see it in your journal!  Thanks for the memory!
~Dawn
http://journals.aol.com/auburndawn/DawnsDrivel

Anonymous said...

Great story! (And how freaky is THAT?)

Anonymous said...

...you are one charmed sister..E

Anonymous said...

I have a jacket I wore constantly back in the 70's, a suede jacket that I finally put away in a closet.  My youngest son got it out last year and has now worn it out!  He loves the thing, and asked me recently if I could get it fixed...there is a tear at one of the arms to the back, and it looks like it's curtains for this jacket.  But he doesn't want to give up on it yet!  LOL  You never know.  Like Robert Duval says to Robert Urich in Lonesome Dove about a hat Danny Glover's character is wearing, "Deets never was one to give up on a garment just because it got a little age on it."  I couldn't put it better myself!  I still have a pair of electric blue Joe Cocker shoes, I bought in 1971.  They were the epitome of style at the time, and every once in a while I have to take them out and try them on, just to see if they still fit.  Those were the days, my friend, we were sure they would never end!  Bruce

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