20° Days

I wish I were a J.Crew model.

It's a sad day here in New York City. It is the first day I have broken out my big puffer coat. It's not that I don't like this coat. On the contrary, I actually adore it in all of its down filled goodness. I would wear all winter if I could. However, in some masochistic attempt to condition myself to the cold, I am only allowed to wear the puffer when the temperature drops into the 20s. Crazy and unnecessary, right? So far I'm still a wimp and shiver when a 50 degree breeze blows by. I don't think the exercise is working.

I remember acquiring my beloved coat a little over 2 years ago. I had moved to the city in September and as Fall came around, it began to get a bit chilly. Since I moved with only a few suitcases, I hadn't packed cold weather clothes. I had my parents ship some necessary hats, gloves, scarves and my lovely wool coat which made token appearances for a few months each year in Alabama. I got the package at work (since the mailman can't exactly leave them on my doorstep) and was excited to show my coworkers my "winter coat". They laughed at me. Laughed. All of a sudden, I began to doubt my move to New York. How could this girl from Alabama--the land of sun dresses and flip flops--survive a winter in the frozen tundra that is the Northeast?! That year I went back South for Thanksgiving with a mission: find a better coat. My mom and I went shopping and I tried on every unflattering, overstuffed option Burlington Coat Factory carried and eventually chose a long, black version with a hood. 

The puffer and I are about to enter our third Winter together. It has served me well, but I've come to terms with something: I'm a warm weather girl. Living in New York is like an abusive relationship for me. I try to focus on all the warm summer days in the park and bike rides to the beach and all the amazing things the city has to offer, but then I get sucker punched with February. And I keep coming back for more. While I love it here, hopefully one day I will gain clarity, donate my puffer to Goodwill, and  retire to a lifetime of flip flops and sun dresses where I belong.