My jacket, my self-esteem

You see this jacket? That’s a genuine, original 1980 boys size large tri-colored puffer straight from the racks of Montgomery Ward. How would I remember that from 35 years ago you ask? That’s because the jacket that preceded it was a men’s size small cherry red coat with a big Bridgestone Tire Company logo straight from the company car of my father. 

That’s right. Middle school with a jacket from your dad’s work. That’s about as bad as it gets. In fact, I got regularly teased by my best friend Jessica who wore Toughskins from Sears and Roebuck. You know you’re at a low in your wardrobe when your bestie outfitted in clothes from Sears thinks she’s got it better than you.

That Bridgestone jacket was the bane of my existence. I never actually wore it to school. I used to stuff it in the bushes on the way. At some point, my parents must have relented and broke down and got me this just-below decent replacement. Not that I was proud of the new one, but at least I could feel some self esteem walking into 7-11 to play Pac Man and it simmered the chuckles from my side kick.

I look at my kids today with their North Faces and Uggs and wonder what they’ll complain about. I can‘t imagine. You KNOW we had it tougher than them!