The letterman jacket, coveted by nerds and earned by jocks for generations for their accomplishments in sports. Back when I was in high school even us lowly cheerleaders got one!
Madison recently received a Letter in sports for Cross Country. So now she just needed a jacket to put it on. No longer provided free by the schools, a letterman jacket costs new, plain, $350 plus any additions (like your name or school name or sport). Wow, bummer!
Just think about all the letterman jackets out there that are packed away after graduation, never to be worn again. Maybe we could put an ad in the paper for previously worn jackets, probably get them at a good price. If we only knew someone who had one...
Earlier in the season at one of Madison's track meets, her mom told her dad that Madison would probably letter this year, and that she would need a jacket to put her letter on. (lightbulb moment!) "Hey, Andy didn't you have a letterman jacket at one time?" Yes he did! And after many years (17!) and several moves, he knew exactly which box it was in. He was skeptical, "Do you think she would want my old jacket?"
Well duh! There is the family heirloom thing and the recycle/reuse thing, and the fact that it is nice and worn in already, but knowing Madison the best part is the cost! She is very frugal with money and I am sure saw this as an offer too good to refuse.
I received an e-mail from her asking if I could look at the jacket and see if the old wrestling patches could come off, you know the stuff that makes grandmothers smile, asking for help from the grandkids!
The patches all came off without a hitch, the only worry was that the fabric underneath the former patches would be darker, but not!
So now the vintage jacket it is all ready for the next generation to proudly display her accomplishments. Way to go Madi!
