Saturday, May 14, 2011

Dads Coat




A couple of lifetimes ago we lived in an old house with an outside loo, it was way down a very long yard past all the trees and vines, way down among the long dark shadows and hidden spider webs. Of course you had to be really busting to use it after dark…desperate!

Going to that toilet after dark was one of my greatest fears as a very young boy, and one of my earliest memories.

By the back door hung dads old WW2 army coat, ankle length on an adult and made of leather it weighed a ton and dragged on the ground behind me as I struggled to carry it. But it made me feel safe.

Full of fear I’d look out into the swaying shadows and howling winds, full of fear I’d take the heavy coat from its place right next to the door and drop it over me, the thick collar sitting on my head, the broad shoulders enormous over my small body.

Then out the door I’d go, no longer scared because nothing could get me under dads coat, I’d weave my way around the shadows and under the spider webs to the loo and back.
I could barely push the coat off my head and up onto its hook then slide out from under it without it falling and pushing me to the ground.

Even now the smell of leather brings back those memories, that musty, earthy smell of leather that I find so comforting. I’d love to own that coat, I’d love to have it hanging on a hook by my back door…just to remind me, you understand!


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13 comments:

Tempo said...

Many thanks to Mapstew whose post reminds me...
http://mapstew.blogspot.com/

mapstew said...

Great memory Tempo, and thank you! :¬)

Windsmoke. said...

I can relate to all of the above but my worse memory is the dreadful smell especially on a very hot summers day with a fully loaded pan that hasn't been emptied for a while :-).

Tempo said...

@Map, I guess we all have those special memories, your moving post brought back similar memories and struck a cord from right around the other side of the world.
@Windsmoke, I wasn't going to mention the outhouse in the middle of a hot Aussie summer mate, the smell, the flies..I was only about 10 when the sewerage was plumbed in and the loo migrated to the back of the house...it was wonderful! LOL

Anonymous said...

Hi Tempo,
Oh I remember those back yard loo's all too well, I was always terrified to go to the loo at night, Mum used to have walk with me, and Oh yes the smell was horrendous.

Tempo said...

@Mags, My kids would never believe it I guess, when we go camping theyre scared to use the long drops...even after Ive sprayed a can of 'insect killer' and a can of 'stink pretty'. I'm sure they would not believe having a short drop in their own yard.

Pearl said...

Ah, Tempo, what a sweet memory.

I've never had to use an outhouse more than on camping excursions but my mother's family didn't have indoor plumbing until she was in the 9th grade. You can imagine how cold an outhouse can be in Minnesota -- Mom said no one had anything to drink after dinner...

Pearl

Anonymous said...

Your post is really interesting, you have your own ideas, i love reading it. Thanks for such a cool blog.

Mags118 said...

Hi Tempo,
I just realized all our followers are missing from our blogs, how long has it been like this? I don't usually take much notice of sidebars, but I noticed today because I went to my blog. I also notice that the posts on the sidebar are missing as well, do you know if anyone has reported the fault?

Mags118 said...

Hi Tempo,
I looked into it, and there was a lot of complaints put in, they said it would be fix shortly. Sorry I should of done that in the first place. :)

Tempo said...

Im having internet 'Issues' with my carrier ..TELSTRA.. (Australians are are all going 'Ahhh!') I've no idea how long it will take to rectify the situation on my #1 computer..
Cheers all!

Anonymous said...

THX for sharing

Sofa Santa Monica said...

Reading that was so nostalgic for me. My dad also has a leather coat and now I can almost smell it.