Oh, of course, I’ve been cold before. But like this, no. I don’t think so. So I, along with most others in my world, have mastered the art of layering.
No longer when I open my wonderful walk-in closet, do I pursue it with joy and say “What color shall I wear today?”
Or “What is appropriate for today’s agenda?”
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No, I immediately think,
“What is warmest?”
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“Which garment is long enough to cover my ankles?”
“What will fit over the woolen turtle neck sweater and button down cardigan?”
Colors, fabric and style no longer matter this morning when the small purple app on my IPad indicates a minus zero for the temperature.
Still I cringe when I think of what my Mother would say if she saw me now.
Mom was formidable with standards beyond description concerning the way her daughters dressed.
And to be brutally frank, I don’t think any of the three of us ever received her total approval.
Anna King Donlon was one of 12 children and grew up to be the strength of her entire clan. And also, a profile of feminine strength that remains a gift for my sisters and me.
She lived west of 9th Avenue as a young woman but window shopped only on the famed Fifth Avenue. And learned what many women never have, how to dress well on a meager budget.
However, she was exceedingly low in tolerance for her “girls” when they visited and hadn’t met her standards. I still recall some of my own failures; blue stockings and black shoes, a brown purse and a black coat.
Oh Mom, if you could see me today.
My ensemble is unique, but oh, so warm. The tights are textured and vaguely gray (yes, old, but quite thick). The knee length sweater is pink and goes rather well with the heavy orange cardigan that is ankle length. And the hat, well, it is soft and covers my ears, and yes, it is red.
The gloves really complete the ensemble, turquoise striped Eileen Fisher, that were a gift ten years ago from my tres’ chic daughter.
But, since I now live in the world of cold, along with not only my neighbors, but all my friends, I think they will all not only approve my ensemble, but perhaps gaze at me in envy.
And when can we expect global warming?
