The flannel Shirt

I keep an old flannel shirt in my car. Why?

In the summer, I grab it to put on when I go grocery shopping.

It is really cold in the dairy and meat departments.

It's big enough and long enough to go over shorts and top.

I use it at the beach, too. It protects me from the sun,

and covers up this not so perfect body,

and the pocket makes a great place to put small shells that I pick up.

I cover up my great-granddaughter in the car when the AC seems to cold,

I wipe the ice cream off her face with it.

Sometimes, I use it to sit on in the park.

In the fall, I put it on the bench to watch the kids play soccer,

or on the bench at the hockey rink.

I wrap it around my waist when we go apple picking and get our pumpkins.

The cider and hot doughnuts are great, and maybe I have to wet a corner of it

to wipe off sticky fingers from a caramel apple.

In the winter, it is nice to put over your lap to get warm until the heat comes on enough in the car.

I fold it and wrap it around my neck as a scarf,

to help protect me from the cold and wind if I decide to take a walk,

and have no hat or scarf with me.

I have even used it to clean the snow off my back window.

I have used it to help gather pine cones and greens for Christmas.

In the spring , it is just a little extra to take with me for a hike in the woods,

and to put on the ground when we have lunch, or the seat of the boat while we fish.

My flannel shirt, I guess I should take it and wash it.

The memories won't go down the drain, with they?

Written by my friend Claire Frasier who passed away on February 21,2024 at 2:56 am.