On "The Way of the Cloak"

I was realizing a couple weeks ago that anyone coming upon my blog for the first time would quickly come to the conclusion that I got a girlfriend, and then promptly dropped off the face of the planet. While it is true that I spend many evenings with Andie, there have been other extenuating circumstances. School this semester has been incredibly time-consuming, and I have assumed more responsibilities with Cru (Campus Crusade) as well.

Nevertheless, I do have new material to write about. I took as many notes as possible during the two conferences that I attended over Christmas break, including about a half-dozen pages of straight journal entries. I will get to writing these up, it may just be a while.

To prove that my life hasn't totally been assimilated into spending time with my girlfriend, though, I offer you a reminiscence from the past. I have several essays written over about the last 15 months that have never been shared or published. This essay was from early 2006, just after I got my cloak. Enjoy...

I have a cloak. Yeah, like Lord of the Rings. Like I haven't heard that one. My cloak is long, and has a full hood. And it's grey. Very grey. It has attracted a multitude of comments, some positive and some not. I've received enough comments that I thought that I would share exactly why I like my cloak.

"Are you a hobbit?"

(from Christine)

Yeah, I was really asked that. If you read Tolkien, you'll find that 4 feet is extraordinarily tall for a hobbit. I'm almost 6 feet tall. Sure, I'm a hobbit...whatever.

Why a cloak? Why not? I wanted to substitute for my hooded sweatshirt, and my cloak trumps it in almost every way. It's warmer, it's more formal, and it's more unique. It hearkens back to a simpler age, way back actually. I would have settled for maybe earlier this century instead of at least a century and a half (I haven't actually looked this up, correct me if I'm wrong), but it works.

It's a cloak, not a cape. (I get that too) A cape is shorter, and may or may not close in front. A cloak is full length (ankle-length for me - I decided that floor-length would get in the way) and typically closes in front.

A cape is associated with superheros, while the cloak implies more on the order of mage or wizard. I think it fits. Think about it. I have gone through arduous training on rebelling against the force(s) of gravity (I'm a flight instructor, remember?) and working with things at the edge of science and plausibility (physics, particularly modern). What better metaphor than mage? (No, I'm not turning Wiccan...that's black. See the next section )

Cloaks also have Biblical roots, believe it or not. This is not a Bible word-study, so I'll only highlight a couple references. A cloak can be a valuable possession. It keeps you warm, you can actually sleep in it, and can be symbolic. (Jesus wore a crimson cloak on the way to the cross - typically a symbol of royalty). Jesus preaches "If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also" (Matthew 5:40, NKJV) In other words, hold your material items loosely, and be ready to give them up. God gave all your stuff, and He can take it back if He so chooses.

"Are you turning into a goth?

(One of my mom's friends)

Yes, I am turning my back on my Godly upbringing and becoming a goth. Here's your sign. I considered several factors when we (my mom and I) chose material and colour for my cloak. We decided that doubled fleece would provide adequate warmth and "drape" (appearance is a little important). Well, as you might be able to imagine, fleece doesn't come in every colour of the rainbow. I didn't want a light colour because a cloak is a pain to wash (actually, it hasn't been cleaned since I started wearing it), so dirt shouldn't show. Green, at least to me, is what I think the Lord of the Rings cloaks are. (Save me the flames - I know they're grey, but they look green)

Black was interesting for a moment. We saw a really nice black bonded sherpa/fleece that would have been way nice. The only problem is that I knew I would probably have to explain a lot that I wasn't a total psychopath. Black cloaks as symbolism in Hollywood, anyone? (Darth Vader, the Phantom of the Opera, and V as in Vendetta come immediately to mind) Not a good association, therefore not a good idea.

This effectively brought my short list of colours down to grey, brown, or maybe navy blue. After much deliberation, we chose grey lined with black. The grey is far enough from black that I've only been called "the Grim Reaper" once, but doesn't show dirt or stick out due to the colour. (it does stick out in a crowd, though. Just a little.)

I don't have a reference to point to for this, but apparently Special Forces are also migrating from black to dark grey for some items. It turns out that under some conditions dark grey or navy blue is harder to see than black. So my grey cloak will hopefully blend in even more.

"And I don't want the world to see me/
Cause I don't think that they'd understand"

("Iris", Goo Goo Dolls)

Lastly, I will talk about some of the rationale or methodology in wearing my cloak. The quote is weird, but sometimes I have to laugh at how well it fits...

My cloak has a very deep hood. I often wear the hood up, especially if it's cold or if I'm somewhere where I desire not to be seen/recognized. My cloak is becoming my trademark at Mines almost as much as my cowboy hat was at Aims. Walking down 19th Street to campus with my hood up draws stares from every car that passes. It's great.

While the cloak certainly sticks out, it almost makes a statement by being plain. It makes a statement of nothing at all, just a shadow. A shadow comes, passes, and is gone. And so I come and go, sometimes wishing to leave hardly a memory. While I cannot control if people see and remember, I can control what they remember - somebody or just a shadow passing.

For the same cost as a Mines hooded sweatshirt, I have an article of clothing that makes a far bolder statement. It is also warmer. I passed a 0-degree weekend in comfort with my cloak over my normal 40-50 degree street clothes. It can be worn in a far wider variety of environments than a hoodie. I have worn my cloak to church, and to school. Oh, and try sleeping in a sweatshirt. A cloak is a handy sleeping bag/blanket in a pinch.

Tech specs on request. (pattern #, material required, etc)

Life is calling. I must move on. My cloak and I.