I enjoyed the finer things in life when I was 19. Don’t get me wrong, I still enjoy the finer things, but they’re just out of reach now that I’m in Canada. I think it’s usual to want something new and beautiful for Christmas, and I had a very long list when I was 19.
I remember the day that my dad took me downtown into Chicago to go Christmas shopping. I wanted to pick out my gifts before I got them because that’s how I rolled back then. Now, of course, I realize that surprises and the unexpected gifts are the best ones but I digress.
After wandering up and down Michigan Avenue, we eventually ended up in the Coach store. I didn’t need a new purse so I don’t even know why I was in there. We were looking around when a pair of white leather gloves caught my eye. They were so soft and had three buttons going up each side. I asked my dad if I could have them for Christmas and he said yes.
Am I Mary Tyler Moore with that hat, or what?
As the employee rang us up, she asked if we were boyfriend and girlfriend. I pretty much threw up in my mouth and walked out of the store after that. The only thing that made me feel better were those gloves. Driving gloves, as I liked to call them. But seriously, what 19 year old need driving gloves?
Christmas came and went and I loved my gloves. I used them through the long Chicago winter. I was going to a community college at the time, so I actually was doing a lot of driving back and forth.
One of my least favorite classes that semester was Speech. Our teacher was like, a hundred years old and made us speak super loud whenever we were performing. I hated that class, but my teacher loved me. Probably because I put really old fashioned cheesy jokes into all of my speeches. I knew how to cater to my audience.
After school one day, I got home and realized that I didn’t have my gloves. I knew that I put them under my seat in class and I must have forgotten about them. Since I went to a community college I pretty much assumed that I would never see my gloves ever again. How would I even drive comfortably after this?!
I went to the lost and found just to make sure there were truly no good people left in this world, and I was right. My gloves were gone. I didn’t have the heart to tell my dad that the gift he gave me was gone because I didn’t take care of it.
I always felt bad about that.
Lily In Canada 
Yeah, soz about that.
They were just such nice gloves, I couldn’t resist it.
I knew it was you! You owe me some gloves, boy!
hope you find it someday. happy holidays lily!
Hah thanks Pretz! Happy holidays to you too! 😀
Coach leather is the best!! This made me sad, to think you, um, misplaced them (sounds better than lost). I’m guessing your dad knows now, right?
Coach leather is very nice. I’m guessing he doesn’t know about it now because I don’t think he reads my blog that much. Also, I don’t really feel bad about losing them any more. 🙂
Not much I can say beyond, “Oh.” in that sorta of awkward way that occurs on occasion. (PS His loss if he’s not reading. Good, amusing stuff here)
A sad but heartwarming coming of age story.
I see you played by a younger Gwyneth Paltrow, with Mary Tyler Moore as the crochety but lovable teacher who teaches you about life and yes, yourself.
Hahah perfect casting! I could totally dig it. As long as I get to be the director and boss everyone around… 😉
Ouch, that’s always such a sad thing :(. Hope you’re over it already, slightly.
Yeah sad times. But yes! I’m over it now. It’s nice to not have to worry about that any more. Losing stuff is the worst though…
I never knew you were a loser before going to a real college. I’ve got a bunch of spair gloves and some bleach to whiten them up. Interested?
If you are referring to my community college stint, it was actually after I went to real college! I went to Utah State for a year and a half. Then I came home and went to CC and then I left to study abroad. Booya.
Bleached up gloves sound so chic. Maybe you can give some to a hobo.
Ugh. It sucks so much to lose something so perfect. I used to have a perfect pair of brown pants that someone stole out of my laundry when I lived in an apartment with communal laundry. I’m still mad about it. it was in Chicago, so the person who stole my pants was probably the same person who took your gloves.
OMG probably! My nightmare is having someone steal my clothes from the laundry. They’re always unguarded. But then I’m always like, who would steal my clothes? Apparently people do that!
See, the straw that broke the camel’s back for me to come home and go to the community college in the first place, was someone stealing from me. So sad. I want your brown pants to come back… 😦
“As the employee rang us up, she asked if we were boyfriend and girlfriend.”
oh my GOD, you poor thing! That has happened before to my brother and I, but I mean, we’re around the same age and we don’t really look related, so I at least have a brief moment of understanding why someone might think that before I projectile vom in said person’s face.
Riiiiight?!? Ugh ugh ugh I was so offended I almost didn’t want to give them my business. ALMOST. But the lady was foreign so maybe she didn’t know what appropriate ages pairings are. IDK. I REALLY JUST DK.
I hated speech class too. I hated it so much that I ended up dropping it….twice. I might actually have a degree if I would have stayed with it the first time. I didn’t like it because she made us lip sync to a song of our choice. What does that have to do with anything? Anyway, sorry about your gloves.
Yeah Speech was one of my least favorites because you had to stand up in front of everyone all the time. So awkward and embarrassing.
In 6th grade we were super close to having to lip sync, but luckily our teachers cancelled the assignment and everyone let out a sigh of relief.
Man, White Leather gloves sounds so Christmassy too 😦 Why are people such thieves? Saying that, the pair of gloves I own I found on a wall in London when I was lost there earlier this year but it’s not like he’s going back to that wall though. Saying that, I probably wouldn’t have turned them in to lost and found if I found them elsewhere anyway; I’m a right bastard.
I know right? So sad. I wouldn’t feel bad about taking those gloves if I were you. Anything lost in the city is pretty much up for grabs. I pretty much assumed my gloves were gone in a school setting. If I lost them in London I would be certain they would be gone within a minute or two. No worries, mate.
Ah! I just experienced a few weeks of hiding my hands in pockets and gloves because I lost my wedding ring. I immediately imagine the worst case scenario, pictured the husband telling me it was a one-of-kind something-or-another, so I tried and tried to hide my hands and hope he wouldn’t notice. Finally I told him (after he asked why the hell I was sleeping with my hands in my pockets) and he laughed. Laughed! Luckily he got that sucker insured. It was a horrible feeling at the time, though, something I still feel pretty crappy about. Like this big nice thing I was trusted with I lost.
Omg that’s crazy! I would be super worried too! At least your husband laughed! I just asked my husband how he would respond if I lost my wedding ring and he said he would kill me. So that’s good. No pressure for me.
Hah I love the visual of you sleeping with your hands in your pockets!
RIP cute gloves!!!! You MUST buy more!!!
Sad times. A moment of silence for the gloves.
I defs need to buy more. Maybe next year…?
I think yes!!! Since next year is SO close!!! Go now!!!
Haha oh yeah! I forgot about the whole new years thing…! 2013 is my year for gloves!
Your going to bring it back in style!!!
Lily, who steals white gloves? I’m perplexed. I am wondering if the white glove thief was a budding actor and needed the gloves for an audition. I’m thinking the gloves will show up on some sit com like, “Happy Endings,” or a more serious show like, “The Good Wife.” I bet those gloves have been Wikepaedia-ed.
I like your thought process. The gloves must be more famous than me now. Students at Harper Community College had so much drive and promise of becoming something great. Hahah “The Good Wife”…
I do read your blog and i love your writing. i don’t care about the lost gloves–the memory of shopping with you is the best present i could ever hope for.
I did that a time or two – the get something from parents and then lose it. It does make you feel sad and squigy 😦
Yeah rough times. I guess you live and you learn, right? 😦