“Little Red”

I haven’t been called that since leaving Toronto so I stopped dead in my tracks when it happened out of the blue here today. I have a favourite hoodie. It is red. It has Cutman on it (get it?). It was a truly random gift from a friend. I wear it everywhere all the time. I laugh at people bundled up in jackets and scarves since my hoodie is all I need.

It was given to me by a Second City friend many many many moons ago. I knew he just got hired by the TourCo and so I congratulated him on that and his sweet hoodie when we passed each other at the entrance of the old theatre one chilly night. He sweetly replied, “Jenn Cutter? That’s awesome. You should have this hoodie instead!!” He actually started to take it off right there on the sidewalk but thought the better of it since it was freezing and he had no other coat. He made good on his promise though. Not long after he left his hoodie for me at the box office and even made a red t-shirt with Cutman on it for my brother. How sweet was that, eh? :)

I wear said hoodie just about everywhere I’ve ever been since that day — Virginia, San Francisco, Los Angeles, etc. — but when I used to walk around downtown Toronto I’d occasionally get nicknamed ‘Little Red’ by shopkeepers and random people I’d have conversations with while waiting in line or for lights to change. I liked it. Yes, I am also short.

There is a predictable effect of wearing a single item of clothing as protection from the elements. It starts to wear down. You can click on the image for a closer look. The bright red stitches were done by Tante in an effort to stem the breakdown but soon I will have to try my own hand at it. I can actually sew a bit so I’m looking forward to it… but I do so enjoy the thumb holes.