How to destroy a camel hair coat. It was a classic, rounded collar, horn buttons, mid-calf length, loose fitting early 1950's style camel hair coat. The coat had hung in the vestibule closet for decades. It was a holdover from our move from Michigan to California. One particularly dry and cold winter (similar to the one we are having this year), I pulled my mother's camel hair coat out of her closet and proceeded to destroy it. I wore it hanging with neighborhood friends (sitting on tree limbs, stairs, walls or on the grass). Can you imagine being such a grunge in a classic camel hair coat? I wore it in gale force winds, opening the front with my arms like wings. I remember wishing it would aid me in taking flight. In the end it was stained and torn by my misuse.
I loved that coat. My mother probably did as well, but I don't remember her ever being angry with my ruining it. Maybe she understood how cozy it made me feel. Or maybe, she didn't miss having to wear it since moving from Detroit to Southern California.
