So much rain today but I still needed to go out and walk. And it was cold—the thermometer hovering around zero Celsius. So I decided to dig in the closet and bring out the duffle coat. A brief inspection to see if there were any signs of mould or moths. I don’t think I’ve worn this coat in 2 or 3 winters.
But I don’t think I’ll ever get rid of it. I think I’ll cut it up and use it as a blanket before that. That’s a pretty strong statement after just finishing a book about spiritual disciplines that has a good chunk of a chapter devoted to simplicity. I have a lot of stuff to get rid of. I need the freedom of the space and the responsibility. The freedom to not be responsible for so much stuff.
But this coat. Grammy bought it for me in Vienna when I was pregnant with Erika (1992). This coat is the intersection of 3 precious things in my life.
Grammy, well I could write lots about my grandmother who came to visit us in Vienna on the mission field when she was 80. The trip had been well planned but just before she arrived the doctor told me I had to be on bed rest. So we weren’t able to do all the tourist things with Grammy. She stayed in the apartment with me and played with Jessica who was 2. I think it was only 3 or 4 days before her departure that the doctor allowed me out of bed.
We took her to the Prater and rode the ferris wheel. I remember it clearly. We also went to a massive coat store. I don’t remember where it was just that it was expensive. Grammy never had much money—she was always giving it away. But I think this coat was about $300—actually the number I remember is 3000 schillings.
I remember her terror at our driving on the narrow streets. I remember crying as we said goodbye at the airport. I’m glad I have this massive wool coat that she bought for me.
Erika is 27. The coat is a bit older. Erika survived that dangerous pregnancy but was warm throughout the winter and even the snowy night that she was born partly because of this quality Austrian coat. Austria and Czech had many cold snowy winters and there are multiple pictures of me in the coat.
Today it’s missing a button and needs some repair to some stressed seams. But it survived two pregnancies, 3 countries and the moves that go with being a global nomad. And frankly I just haven’t found a better coat that I’m willing to pay for. Today it kept the cold and the rain out. Did I mention it has a hood?
Grammy died in 2004. She didn’t just buy me a coat, she invested in my future. She came to my world and met the needs that were right there in front of her. I want to be like her.
7 January 2021