What's in a Sweatshirt?

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Every Friday I wear this sweatshirt.

The bright colors lift my spirit, and my mind associates it with the weekend.

But the colors and the association of a slower pace coming my way, aren't the only reasons this sweatshirt brings me joy.

This sweatshirt also reminds me of friends and family. In November of 2021, my friend's daughter died. Her daughter was the same age of my youngest son. 

My friend posted the celebration of life details on Facebook. In the post, she asked that people wear hoodies and/or pride colors. I felt strange about going to a celebration of life in a hoodie, and I definitely didn't want to wear any old wrinkled hoodie that I had shoved in the back of a drawer, either.

Luckily, I work near The Paper Store and I had a gift card. I saw this hoodie and I knew it was perfect-bright colors, tie-dye, and an elephant on the back. 

My friend, surprised that I had flown back to Chicago, was thrilled to see me, loved the sweatshirt, and her face lit up when I told her I had bought the sweatshirt to celebrate her daughter.

Every Friday I wear this sweatshirt and I think about how lucky I am to have a friend from high school, how lucky I am that my sons are alive, and how lucky I am that I have a job I love.