Sasquatch Lives

We like to think that when our time on earth is up, we'll be remembered for our good deeds and notable achievements.

I like to think that as well. But - as I recently discovered - a clear early contender in the "things people will remember most about Peter" contest is a coat.

It's not just any coat. It was a winter coat I bought at the Burlington Coat Factory in anticipation of another cold Ithaca winter at Cornell. It had, as you can see above, a rather distinctive look.

In my defense ... ah, forget it. There is no defense. I just liked the coat. It kept me warm. And I acquired a new nickname in the process - at least when I wore the coat: Sasquatch.

I loved that coat. It was warm. It had lots of pockets. And it amused untold dozens of my Cornell classmates.

Eventually, the coat wore out and was discarded. (There's no truth to the rumor that it got up and left one night to return to its former home deep in the woods ...) I forgot about it and went on to more traditional forms of winter wear that weren't quite as distinctive but certainly invited less abuse.

Recently, I was digging up old pictures to scan for Facebook and came across one of me wearing Sasquatch. I figured if any picture was a "must-post", that was it. So I did.

Not 20 seconds had gone by since I'd clicked "save" when I got an IM from a college friend: "OMG!!!! The coat!!!".

A few dozen comments later, it came to me. My defining moment had been in the books for 30 years, and I'd never realized it. Even my current group of friends and co-workers took the opportunity to comment on Sasquatch. I enjoyed all the comments - even the semi-abusive ones (all in good fun, of course).

I hope, of course, to have a few more memorable accomplishments. But for now, it appears that having owned Sasquatch is at or near the top of the list. You know, I just noticed my current winter coat has a few rips in it ...