It has been too long since I took my daughter on her pre-college visits. At one West Coast university, I purchased a sweatshirt, as a remembrance of our trip. Theres nothing fancy about it. Its the basic model: pull it on over your head, slip your hands into the small pouch on the front and pull up the hood. Of course the name of the school emblazoned in large letters across the front...Mine is red.

Over the years that sweatshirt has been my go to garment. My first choice. Preferred attire.. I try to wear it anytime I can, to any and all events. I think its my adult blankie. It got old and ratty. I took up mending. I rejected replacement offers. My family finally caught on: I am never going to part with it. We decided that, in the end, it will be cremated along with this old bag of bones.

I finally realized that I am equating my sweatshirt with my fathers ever present Blue Suit. He wore it to all important family events: church, weddings, funerals. Ultimately it is what he chose to be buried in. When I saw him in that suit for the last time, I remember thinking that somehow its fabric contained the memories of so many of his lifes significant events. They were all there, in that garment, ready to be extracted through some magic-like breakthrough in quantum physics.

Like my dads suit, my old red sweatshirt has been imprinted with some of my significant personal memories. Maybe thats why I want to have it with me at the end. Until then, I can hold it, smell it and review all of the memories that are stored up in its fabric. No amount of washing can remove those. No amount of illness or disability can take them away.

What is your red sweatshirt?