This Reminds Me

Julia owned nothing in Russia.  She still wears the only item she removed from Children’s Home #47 - a tiny metal cross, knotted around her neck on a colored string.

But in recent weeks, she has repeatedly – and pitifully – regretted the loss of “her” jacket.  The zip-up royal blue jacket she wore outside during playtime.   The hooded jacket lined with stars.  It was the world’s perfect jacket, left behind in St. Pete for another small user.  And she has missed it.

My favorite picture from Trip #1 to St. Pete.  I couldn’t post pictures of Guanna-to-be-Julia then.  This playground was visible from the fence of the orphanage, but she’d never been to it.  Keith and I were allowed to walk her there to play.  She was all over that play equipment  - did pull-ups - showed us flips – never tired of our pushing her on the swings.  Keith nicknamed her “Monkey Girl” that afternoon.

Her deep longing for that jacket spurred me to hunt for a similar one.  No luck.  I emailed several friends and family members and basically said:  It can’t be Navy.  It can’t be aqua.  It can’t be baby blue.  But if you find a true royal blue zip-up hooded jacket in a 5T – call me.  I may ask you to buy it.

My good friend Mary Anne- who stayed with Rachel, Lois and Hannah during our first trip – instead sewed Julia a jacket.  Yes, sewed.  As in with a needle and thread.  Royal blue.  Hooded.  With a starred fabric lining.  And even some extra star buttons sewn inside.

It fits just fine, Sparky!

When Julia opened it, she exclaimed, “Oh!  I had a this in Russia!”

Sometimes it’s what you have on the outside – like the starry shine of the world’s perfect jacket.

And sometimes it’s what you have on the inside – like the feeling that someone cared enough about you to recreate the world’s perfect jacket.

Pretty warm feelings either way.

Comments are closed.