Pockets of Memory

 Yesterday I wore a houndtooth jacket.  (The photo is from a few years ago when I wrote this:  https://bfthsboringblog.blogspot.com/2021/02/loving-houndstooth.html)

As I said I bought this jacket a LONG time ago (before some of you might have been born).  Way back in the day when ordering clothes was not done on line (there was no on line -- at least not we know it) and was kind of exciting.  Ordering from Spiegel was "trendy" (at least for me).  As catalogs.com said:   "Whether you’re shopping for fresh and flowery Spiegel dresses for Spring, sexy bikinis for Summer or cozy sweaters and outerwear for Fall and Winter, the Spiegel catalog brings you a collection of fashionable women’s clothing and accessory choices. For the office, the weekend, the beach or intimates to wear under your Spiegel clothing, Spiegel delivers the items that always pack a stylish punch.  When you shop for women’s clothing, you want fashion that’s going to last. When you shop the Signature Luxury Fabric Collections featured in the Spiegel catalog, you’ll be investing in timeless pieces that you’ll find yourself reaching for every time you open your closet door. From silk linen to effortless tweed, relaxed pinstripes to eco-luxe jersey, indulge in Spiegel clothing’s classically flattering styles and fabrics to mix, match and layer for endless fashion options."

This jacket is somewhat out of style and is way too big (long) for me, but it's still in excellent condition and I don't think I could ever give it up.  And in the pockets there are some "memories." (Thankfully no old tissues...which I find all the time in my pockets.  Gross, but honest.) I should throw them out, but I haven't.

For example in the pocket yesterday I found two sets of ticket stubs in one of the pockets.

I don't know if you can make what it's for out.  After 24 years it's pretty faded.  (Yes, you read it right, those ticket stubs have been in my pocket for 24 years!)  Back at the end of the last century (it kills me every time I write that), I worked for a plumbing/HVAC contractor.  (Fun note:  I have worked for 2 competitive plumbing/HVAC contractors.  One I enjoyed [at least for the majority of my time there] and the other was a complete nightmare of stress and unkindness.)  These tickets were a gift from the owner of the company as I allowed the company to use my house as well as my parents' home to shoot two television commercials.  (It was one of my favorite parts of the job, which we usually did once a year although the day was always LONG.)

I remember taking the bus with my husband into the city in the afternoon.  We spent some time with friends in their apartment.  We went out to dinner at Chevys and then went to the show.  The seats were in the balcony, in the center of the row.  And I got sick.  REPEATEDLY.  What I saw of the show was good, but to be honest I don't remember much of the show at all.  I just remember repeatedly leaving the theater (climbing over people) and spending much of my time in the ladies room.  It was embarrassing and awful.  (And not at all what the person who gave me the tickets intended.)  We left the show at intermission and got an earlier bus home.  I never told the owner of the company about it; I lied and said I enjoyed the show.  I never should have eaten and had that margarita (which is what I believe set me off).  And to this day, I wish I could have seen the whole show and feel bad for the people who were stuck in the row with us.  All of this is clear as day 24 years later, yet there are so many other more important things that I SHOULD remember that I don't.  (Thank you brain).

The other set of tickets are only 12 years old. (ONLY?).  I took my son (after work) to see this movie.  We didn't go to the movies very often and I think this was the only time my son and I went to this theater.  We used to go to a much smaller one closer to home, which sadly is no longer in existence.  (Only recently did the falling down poster for the SpongeBob movie get removed.  I'm crushed that they are gone as it was place we took our son to see his first movie [Wall-E] and where we, as a family saw "films" like Hotel Transylvania, The Peanuts Movie, and Pixels [my son wanted to go to the movies with his two best friends at the time for his birthday and that is what we saw; not a great movie, but perfect for 3 elementary aged boys].)  I'm pretty sure that I rushed home from work (I would have passed the theater on my way) and then turned around and came back with my son.  I'm also pretty sure that dinner that night was a bucket of popcorn.  (And probably some smuggled in drinks!)  I don't remember much of the movie, but I do remember having the time with my son who only 2 months into first grade at the time.  Those were the days...

These (fading) stubs are still sitting in my pocket.  And they're probably going to stay there until...I can't answer that...