Gatlinburg TN
Last weekend, when we went to the museum at Dollywood, the most moving thing I saw was Dolly’s coat of many colors. I’ve searched for a photo of it to show you, but haven’t had any luck. This is a drawing of it, from one of her record albums. (Sorry I can’t give a better credit for it, but none was available.) The coat was hanging in a very small exhibit, with two sheets of paper, ripped from a receipt book. She had worked out the words to the song on the backs of the receipts, using a blue pencil. When I first heard the song, “Coat of Many Colors,” (http://www.cowboylyrics.com/lyrics/parton-dolly/coat-of-many-colors-13952.html) I imagined a long coat in a quilt pattern, but I was wrong. Her mother had used large scraps of corduroy, in mustard yellow, sage green, and soft orange. It was a beautiful little coat that fell just below the waist, with large buttons.
When I was a kid, my family didn’t have much money. We lived in the country and were the only ones in the area who did not farm. Prior to my birth, my mother worked. After I was born, she wore out her work clothes, then wore my dad’s old clothes that she’d altered to fit. My parents were friends with a family who had two daughters, both a bit older than I. They went to Europe and New York City to buy clothes, back when Saks and Lord & Taylor were accessible to only the very wealthy. So, there I was, in a farm area, wearing fancy clothes. I was ridiculed daily.
When there were no hand-me-downs, my mother sewed for me. She had the amazing ability to look at a picture of an outfit, draw the pattern on old newspaper, and then make it. Because we lived close to Woolrich, she went to their factory store each year to buy wool and other fabrics. She loved designer clothing, so she used Vogue as her guide. Again, daily ridicule.
I loved some of the clothes I wore. I loved wool plaid pleated skirts where part of the plaid was hidden in the pleat – the full design of the fabric would magically appear as I skipped or ran. There was a double-breasted pea coat I loved, too. I used to pretend I was a sailor on the ocean and invincible to all. There was a boiled wool jacket, decades before boiled wool was common in this country. I drew the line at the lederhosen, though. I absolutely refused to wear leather shorts and embroidered suspenders to school.
I’m guessing that all kids feel they don’t fit in, in one way or another. Most of us were raised with less than we wanted. I don’t know whether Ms. Parton had shoes to wear. That little coat was lined, but wasn’t made for winter comfort. I endured bullying daily, but I grew up in a snug house and wore warm clothes. Of all the songs Ms. Parton has written, “Coat of Many Colors” is one of the most popular. Most of us can relate to it in one way or another. I’ve often sent her mental “thanks” for that song and was grateful that I had the opportunity to see the coat.
Last weekend, when we went to the museum at Dollywood, the most moving thing I saw was Dolly’s coat of many colors. I’ve searched for a photo of it to show you, but haven’t had any luck. This is a drawing of it, from one of her record albums. (Sorry I can’t give a better credit for it, but none was available.) The coat was hanging in a very small exhibit, with two sheets of paper, ripped from a receipt book. She had worked out the words to the song on the backs of the receipts, using a blue pencil. When I first heard the song, “Coat of Many Colors,” (http://www.cowboylyrics.com/lyrics/parton-dolly/coat-of-many-colors-13952.html) I imagined a long coat in a quilt pattern, but I was wrong. Her mother had used large scraps of corduroy, in mustard yellow, sage green, and soft orange. It was a beautiful little coat that fell just below the waist, with large buttons.
When I was a kid, my family didn’t have much money. We lived in the country and were the only ones in the area who did not farm. Prior to my birth, my mother worked. After I was born, she wore out her work clothes, then wore my dad’s old clothes that she’d altered to fit. My parents were friends with a family who had two daughters, both a bit older than I. They went to Europe and New York City to buy clothes, back when Saks and Lord & Taylor were accessible to only the very wealthy. So, there I was, in a farm area, wearing fancy clothes. I was ridiculed daily.
When there were no hand-me-downs, my mother sewed for me. She had the amazing ability to look at a picture of an outfit, draw the pattern on old newspaper, and then make it. Because we lived close to Woolrich, she went to their factory store each year to buy wool and other fabrics. She loved designer clothing, so she used Vogue as her guide. Again, daily ridicule.
I loved some of the clothes I wore. I loved wool plaid pleated skirts where part of the plaid was hidden in the pleat – the full design of the fabric would magically appear as I skipped or ran. There was a double-breasted pea coat I loved, too. I used to pretend I was a sailor on the ocean and invincible to all. There was a boiled wool jacket, decades before boiled wool was common in this country. I drew the line at the lederhosen, though. I absolutely refused to wear leather shorts and embroidered suspenders to school.
I’m guessing that all kids feel they don’t fit in, in one way or another. Most of us were raised with less than we wanted. I don’t know whether Ms. Parton had shoes to wear. That little coat was lined, but wasn’t made for winter comfort. I endured bullying daily, but I grew up in a snug house and wore warm clothes. Of all the songs Ms. Parton has written, “Coat of Many Colors” is one of the most popular. Most of us can relate to it in one way or another. I’ve often sent her mental “thanks” for that song and was grateful that I had the opportunity to see the coat.
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