the jacket

 

Last week, I volunteered as a cashier in my children’s school cafeteria, something I’ve done countless times. But this time, it was anything but ordinary. Outside, thick smoke clouded the sky. It was surreal, standing in a space filled with laughter, chattering children and bustling feet, not really knowing what was happening outside and the magnitude of what was about to unfold. The other volunteers and I were united in this routine of performing the mundane, appearing calm and focused. Then, something unexpected caught my eye. Another mom at a nearby cash register was wearing a beautiful jacket—an olive wool and cashmere cardigan (or was it a jacket?) with a ribbed collar and cuffs. It wasn’t flashy, but something about it stood out. The jacket radiated a quiet resilience... comfort. At the moment though, it wasn’t just a jacket; it felt more like a metaphor: a coat of armor. I ended up cutting out of my shift early to return to the Palisades, to the heart of the fire. But that jacket stayed with me. It now reminds me that even when life feels overwhelming, I can find comfort in small and simple things—a jacket, a smile, the rhythm of everyday tasks. The jacket is by La Ligne.