Friday, December 11, 2009

Peacoat's Last Dance


Dear NY Cares,

Today I was riding the subway and saw an ad for your Annual Coat Drive which began 12/1. Then I got to thinking, last Wednesday was the 2nd, the day my Peacoat was lifted.

I know, it is a beautiful vintage coat, WWII issued. Handmade craftsmanship was evident from the gauge of wool down to the corduroy lined pockets. I had picked it up at an Army/Navy warehouse in Hartford CT in the early nineties.

Last winter I noticed it was suffering some wear and tear. I mean, I’d had the thing forever. So I mended it, by hand, giving it all the TLC I can muster. I was like a surgeon bringing a patient back from the brink. I told Peacoat, “Don’t go into the light!” I picked that up from the movie, Poltergeist.

I am aware you do the coat drive every year. And I know it helps the less fortunate who don’t have coats. This year, given the economic climate, I’m sure your quota is low. But that doesn’t give you the right to steal my coat. So could you, the kind people you bill yourselves as, please, please return Peacoat to me.

Or else I will file a police report.


Best,