With only one winter storm warning (which fizzled) so far, Ladyslipper Lane is enjoying a fairly balmy fall, so I haven't really needed my blizzard-hardy winter jacket. Just to be prepared, however, I went looking for it a couple weeks ago and couldn't find it anywhere.

The dilemma of the missing jacket has been a frequent discussion. So, where does a big black jacket with fur trimmed hood hide?

A nagging little thought kept hinting that I got paint on it and threw it away. But when would that have happened, and why didn't I remember the details? Was it "lost" at the dry cleaners, even though I rarely buy dry-clean-only? Was it in a box or bin somewhere, even though I don't own enough stuff to store in boxes or bins?

I started thinking about shopping for a new one. Maybe something a little less "North Pole" this time, something colorful, stylish?

Last night I walked past the place the jacket is supposed to be and noticed again that old black jacket without a hood I'd dismissed several times. On a whim I grabbed the hanger and took it off the rod. It was extra bulky. Hmmm?

Seems I had taken the hood off (because the fur isn't washable) and hung it over the hanger, then washed the jacket and placed it on the hanger over the hood.

So I don't get a new jacket after all, and I'm searching for the missing pieces of my brain.

Search me, O God, and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way. Psalm 139:23-24