I don't know if I've ever been more angry at family.

[Schumi]

I think I haven't been more pissed about anything in my recent memory than I am right now.


So when I moved out here, I left a lot of stuff behind- I got my job on such a short notice and I was broke at the time, so everything got packed in boxes and put in storage. My parent's place is huge so I stored a lot of things there in their unfinished basement. I have some valuable things there- my Yamaha Stage Custom drum kit with accessories- worth well over $2K.. my old Porsche.. worth a good amount also....

and my 1982 Joe Rocket Leather motorcycle jacket- the only one I have ever found in existence. I bought it a few years ago off of ebay for a steal. It was in need of some repairs... but I soon found it was worth everything I thought it was and more. I posted on here and some motorcycle forums looking for anyone who had ever seen the same jacket. I have yet to find another Joe Rocket jacket exactly like that one. There are some others that are close (Vinny used to have a similar one) but none that were the same.

Being here in LA, there are a lot of small specialty shops and I figured I could find one that would specialize in restoring old leather jackets. It needed some stitching and maybe the leather re-dyed. I was willing to put some money into it, because I had seen similar limited edition vintage Joe Rocket jackets selling for $3-400.


I'm talking to my mother tonight on the phone and I bring up the idea of shipping the jacket out here so that I can take it to a shop to get restored.

Then she tells me probably the single most infuriating thing I think I've head from her:

She threw it out.

This was my single favorite article of clothing I have ever had in my entire life. I had to leave it there in Missouri as it weighs quite a bit and can't be folded up, and all my bags were at the brink of exploding.

So I freak out. I know I have told her in the past how much that jacket is potentially worth and more importantly how much it means to me. I remember her saying before how she didn't like it because she thought it looked tacky (it screams 80's) but how it looked isn't for her to decide and throwing it out should had not been a decision she should have made.


So amidst my freaking out I ask over and over again if she can get it back and she says no, over and over.

Then finally she says well they didn't quite throw it out, but they gave it to this senile old lady who's farm my father goes and visits and she had taken it and put it out on her scarecrow in her garden, because, you know, it's bright colored and all. And it's been out there. in the rain. For weeks. I can't believe this. It would be one thing to take it to goodwill. But to knowingly RUIN THE JACKET COMPLETELY?


I'm literally in tears as I type this. I can't really think of any other possession I have that I would be this upset about. Anything else- ANYTHING I could just re-buy. Drums, cars, books, anything. But not THIS JACKET.

So my father is damn well going to go out tomorrow to get that jacket back regardless of how ruined it is. I really don't have a lot of hope right now. I just wish somehow I could have forgotten about the jacket (which I never would have) and never known about this.

[Hugh R]

Weird

[Embraer]

schumi, what size are you?

[ckissick]

I remember when you got that jacket. I can't believe it's now on a scarecrow. Only Larry David could come up with such a fate.

[Dottore]

If that is the most pissed you have ever been, you have led a very sheltered life and have anger management issues.

It's a friggin jacket. It may be special. But it's still a jacket.

Not worth going to war with you parents over something like this.

[masraum]

Wow, something like that would be extremely, EXTREMELY irritating for her/them to have knowingly blown off your feelings.

Wow, but, as stated, if that's the worst that's ever happened to you, you're doing pretty good.

Yeah, I also remember when you got it and remember you posting about it here. Bummer, good luck.

[john70t]

I hear 'ya, but if the house burned down(with them in it), would the loss have felt the same?

Give mom a hug and apology, and go buy another one for $400. We all spend more than that per year on coffee.
Mom spent 3 sleepless years wiping your butt and another 15 paying for your existance.

[nostatic]

Dude, it's a jacket. Perspective.

[porsche4life]

I think its more about the principal of the fact that she would just pitch something of his....

[imcarthur]

Originally Posted by Dottore

It's a friggin jacket. It may be special. But it's still a jacket.

Not worth going to war with you parents over something like this.

+1 Life is far too short to sweat the small things, and this is a small thing. Get over it & buy another.

Ian

[Tishabet]

It sounds like your parents did something really annoying and insensitive. You're right to be upset with them.

But

It's just a jacket... a worldly possession. Let it go.

[nostatic]

If that is the worst offense of principals [sic], then it is a charmed life.

Seriously. I could maybe see it if his wife gave him that, then his only child was born in a taxi cab and that jacket was the "blanket" for delivery, and shortly thereafter his wife and child died in a tragic accident. Then there would be some serious history in it.

Beyond that...it's a jacket.

[EarlyPorsche]

Jacket...only worth $3-400...hadn't touched it in years...I'd say you'll be fine.

[porsche4life]

hadn't touched in years.... He bought it like 2yrs ago at the most... He moved in JUNE...

[Schumi]

Well I'm sure theres worse times, but... this was that one thing. Out of the boxes of crap... this was the one thing that I wouldn't have wanted to part with. If the house burned down that's a different story- nothing could be done about this. The fact that this was deliberate.. that she had to deliberately go through a box and think "hmmm this jacket is trash I'm getting rid of it" just had me furious, considering I've explained the story behind it several times. I bought it off ebay really cheap. It was the only thing I have ever "impluse" bought. I was it and bid on it 30 seconds after seeing it because I wanted it that badly. I won, and when I got it I loved it. Then found out that it's incredibly rare and actually worth something. I wore it all throughout college, and I loved it. I had big plans for taking it to a shop and spending lots of money to make it perfect...

It was just the principle of it. It didn't matter so much that it was the jacket, it was the whole part about her not remembering how much I loved it...


So I get a call just a few minutes ago. I guess I made such a big deal about it, my father got in a car and went out to this lady's farm and got the jacket. I guess I made them realize how much it meant to me. I am incredibly grateful that he did this, but I hope they realize what a stupid thing to that was to do with a jacket, especially this one.


There are very few things that get me going, but for some reason that tripped a switch.

Oh well, crisis averted.


I may have sounded a bit childish about this I realize.... and yes I'm sure I've had bigger events in my family life (although I admit it it's not all that exciting compared to most's)...

but the jacket sure is special.

It's ruined now. My mother says it's just stiff and kinda dirty and not much worse than before, but I'm thinking it's ruined. I'm going to pick it up next time I am in St. Louis and maybe I can have it worked on by someone.. but it's probably done.

Which kinda makes me feel worse than it just being gone to goodwill or something.

[Schumi]

Originally Posted by imcarthur

Get over it & buy another.

Ian

If I were able to, I wouldn't have been nearly upset. For instance... she also sold my vintage GT/Dyno BMW bike a few years back without me knowing. $250-$300 bike she let go at a yard sale for twenty bucks. I was a little pissed, but not so much about the bike as the money- I can go out and buy another old GT/Dyno - a bit hard to find, but they made a ton of them.


This jacket is literally the only one I have found in existence. If I could find another, I would buy it just so I could be sure to have two. I've actually tried to find another one and I check websites regularly looking for one for sale and nothing- they don't exist. It's that rare.


Embraer: I'm a chest size 42, the jacket is more like a 40 but fits me very 'period-correctly'... Or at least used to fit me.

[LeeH]

True story: When I was in the Navy, I got angry at my mom about something. Can't begin to remember what it was about. I remember giving her a piece of my mind over whatever it was while on the payphone outside my housing unit at the Navy base in Orlando. I remember her saying "I love you" at the end of our call. I remember deciding to say "Goodbye" instead of "I love you" and hanging up.

Two days later I was at the club on base having a great time talking to some of my friends. Another friend came in the club and told me the entire base was looking for me. Something was wrong at home. I had to wait 15 minutes for the Red Cross volunteer to arrive to read the official communications. Of course I don't remember the exact words, but she read something to the effect of, "Petty Officer Hines' mother suffered an aneurysm this morning and is not expected to recover. Please grant him emergency leave to return home immediately." My mother died that evening shortly after I arrived back in Atlanta.

Nope... can't for the life of me remember what I was so pissed off at her about.

[vash]

what size it that jacket..? i have vintage VANSON leather in almost perfect condition. (and i got too fat, and dont have a bike)..i was going to let someone buy it cheap!! i have tops and bottoms.

[Schumi]

Originally Posted by vash

what size it that jacket..? i have vintage VANSON leather in almost perfect condition. (and i got too fat, and dont have a bike)..i was going to let someone buy it cheap!! i have tops and bottoms.

I think it's a 40 or 42.


Look on ebay- nice condition, rare Vanson jackets are selling for anywheres from $150 to $500...

Considering a new, full leather jacket easily costs $400... it's not hard to see how nice quality, vintage jackets can be worth so much.

[RPKESQ]

"I may have sounded a bit childish about this I realize.... "

Ya think? A bit?

You take advantage of them for free storage and then whine when they did something to the stuff you left months ago?

Grow up and be a man. Call your parents and express your aplogies to them repeatedly.