Wonder Jacket

By KatieAxelson On January 8, 2013 · 5 Comments · In Living Stories Worth Telling

If we’ve connected on Twitter or Facebook, you may have seen the posts: my coat has gone missing.

I wore it, oh definitely wore it, into the airport in Wisconsin on Sunday afternoon. I was sweltering in it as I walked out of the airport in North Carolina on Sunday night. I can’t find it on Monday afternoon.

I know it was in the car–the wheels of my roller-board were inside it and that’s not ok (germophobe sighting).

I haven’t gone anywhere except in that car, my house, and work. It’s vanished.

People lose things all the time, Katie. No big deal.

I’m not “people.”

When I lose things, they’re usually found on my roommates’ desks. I’m the girl who finds other peoples’ things. I make a point to know where everyone’s everything is at all times.

And this isn’t just any coat.

This is my heaviest winter coat. It’s January.

California

My ski coat. My bonus carry-on bag.

It even has a name: Wonder Jacket.

And a story: The Adventures of Carry-on Scarecrow and Wonder Jacket.

Wonder Jacket and Carry-on Scarecrow in Nashville

Katie, it’s just a coat.

No, see, it really isn’t. Wonder Jacket isn’t just a coat any more than Allison Vesterfelt’s piano is just a piano.

Wonder Jacket wasn’t really a gift but we’ve skied many mountains. Its deep pockets have saved me from the “One carry-on, one personal item” rule many times. We’ve traveled many, many miles together.

It’s just a coat.

A coat with a story, a history, a purpose.

Have you ever felt too attached to an inanimate object? Have you ever lost that object? Don’t leave me hangin’ here.

Update: Wonder Jacket has been found! It’s in my friend’s car. This is great news! However, there is one problem: his car was stolen. Yes, this is real life.

Buffer

http://sometimeshope.wordpress.com/ Chris

Katie, I lost my birth certificate on the evening of a trip to Guadalajara, back in the days where a birth certificate was sufficient to travel to Mexico.

This was when we only has one child, and he was a toddler, so clearly too young to blame (sadly).

It was so embarrassing. I called my Mom and accused her of not sending it to me, as I had asked her to months prior, and even got VERY nasty with her when she assured me she did send it. I tore our apartment apart, with no luck.

I was getting ready to call the leader of our mission trip, but couldn’t find his phone number either. I remembered I put his number in the glove compartment of our car, so I went to get it…and guess what I also found [blush]? My birth certificate!

I called my Mom and apologized profusely, then listened to her tell me “I told you so” until she was content I understood the message.

Too bad your jacket won’t fit in your glove compartment — I would suggest looking there.
- http://KatieAxelson.com/ Katie Axelson
  
  Oh, man! That would definitely be worse than a jacket! I did look for in my fridge since I moved some groceries from the freezer to the fridge. It wasn’t there.
  - http://sometimeshope.wordpress.com/ Chris
    
    You must either have a very large fridge or a very small jacket! Maybe I am just picturing one of my jackets and laughing. I am 6’7″, so nothing of mine fits anywhere easily…except birth certificates
Stephen Thomas

One time, I lost a car. That was unfortunate.
- http://KatieAxelson.com/ Katie Axelson
  
  Missing coat aside, I really hope your car gets found!