With weather changes come wardrobe changes. Since I have a few coats for the season, I like wearing them all in a kind of rotation. This leads me to discover things that I left in their pockets.
For instance, in one of them I found some foreign coins from a trip. I didn't want to misplace them, so I left them there. In another, a cough drop reminded me of a visit to Chicago in the middle of winter. I won't put it in my mouth, but it will remind me to keep them handy. A jacket had some tickets for a long-forgotten show. Then, in a parka, I found a vet's receipt from a visit of our cat Ben. Given that he left us already, it was a bittersweet reminder of his life.
All these findings make me wonder what I'll leave behind when I go. What will my pockets tell my family and friends? That I was a slob, a sickly old guy or simply careless? That I saw shows in my life, traveled to distant lands and spent strange currency? Do they symbolize my achievements, failures and desires?
I haven't figured it out yet… but I still haven't worn all the coats in my closet this cold season. And I hope that my next find will be a nice, crisp bill for a moment of need. Why not? One can always dream.
I am Francisco Solares-Larrave, and this is my perspective.
