The Unworn Blazer

This blazer has hung in my closet, never worn, for several months. Its only current purpose seems to be to remind me of how everything in the world went south. I bought it as a gift for myself early in the year, to celebrate having raised my children, having finally finished college, having at long last arrived at a point in my life where I could focus on my own personal aspirations.

Really, it had a dual purpose — one career-related, the other a political statement. On the career front, though I love a lot of things about my job, I decided I would keep my eyes open and possibly apply for other positions if I saw an opportunity I thought would be a good fit and pay me better. In that case, I would need something to wear to interviews. And even if I never applied for anything else, I developed a plan for my current place of employment, to try to make the job more what I wanted. Part of that would involve dressing more professionally. Dress for the job you want…blah, blah, blah. (I would have ironed it!)

Politically, I knew there were two local/primary elections this year, plus one presidential one. It may seem silly, and also late to the game, but I really wanted to wear a pantsuit to go to the polls. My own private statement, even if it only mattered to me.

You know what they say about making plans. The universe is having a big old belly laugh over this purchase. I don’t know if I’ll ever find a reason to wear it. Immediately after I bought it, COVID-19 shut down everything, including my workplace for a few weeks. And once we re-opened, the nature of the work had changed overnight. I’m at a public library, where suddenly a large, new part of our operating model includes curbside deliveries, carrying loads of books and other library materials out to cars in the hot sun, a task requiring a relaxing of the dress code to prevent heat exhaustion. For the first time, we were allowed to wear shorts at work.

My work wardrobe since May has consisted mostly of t-shirts and capris. I’m no longer teaching any classes, leading book discussions, or assisting with in-person programming, since we don’t have any and won’t for the foreseeable future. Thus no occasion to put on a blazer at the current job. And as few places are hiring right now, I’m unlikely to need it for an interview, either.

As for the idea of a pantsuit at the polls, COVID-19 has me casting absentee ballots for the first time in my life. Ah well, maybe I’ll put it on and wear it November 3 anyway. Why not? It’s here waiting.