Corduroy Jacket

This blog post has nothing to do with photography or travel, but I composed this on the trail so close enough.  Besides, it's my blog so here it goes :).
I recently got back in touch with my Great Aunt after over 15 years. Life circumstances changed for both of us, and lifestyles that didn't quite fit, and soon years piled up since last seeing her. 
She lost her longtime husband about a year ago, and she still struggles with the hole left behind in a house packed with memories of a life spent together with him.  
After a wonderful lunch, and catching up on the past 15 years, she wanted to show me around and point out the things that had some significance to the family.  I'm grateful for what I have, but I'm not a "stuff" person, except for maybe camera gear.  She's planning ahead and figure out what will go to whom when time eventually catches her also.  The practical matter of things is houses eventually need to be emptied, and family history passed down to the next generation. 
Ancestry and family history isn't my life's passion at this point in my life, but it's hard not to have a sense of awe looking at things that have been in the family since before the Civil War.  It's an amazing gift to see some of the things my ancestors did and hear the stories around them.
Towards the end of the tour, we came to a coat closet. There was a corduroy jacket that my Great Uncle wore when the weather got cold hanging in there among others.  She told me a bit about it and I could feel it was significant for her to offer it.  She held it out for me to try on and I slipped it on. 
The jacket is nice, but probably something I'd never pick out for myself.  I joked that it would probably make people think I was a hipster when I wore it.  She probably didn't know what a hipster was, but gave a chuckle and a smile and told me it looked good on me.
Something told me of all that was generously offered from the house, this was a true treasure she really wished to pass on. Truth be told, it might be a bit long for me also since my my Great Uncle was a lot taller than I.  She had so many good memories of him in that jacket, she couldn't just send it to Goodwill.
This Winter, when the weather gets cold, I will be blessed to wear the warmth of this jacket. Though it may not fit perfectly, I can't imagine a jacket that would be more fitting.  Love never belongs forgotten in the back of a closet.