I dropped into Starbucks this morning for a quick cup of coffee–it is 17 degrees outside–and a woman at the coffee counter had on a full length mink coat. Just as shiny and furry as you please. No one said anything in fact, the white lady with blond hair seemed almost proud to be in her fur. While the rest of us stood, still shaking cold from our fleece and wool, her dead little minks kept her cozy. And it’s not my first fur spotting. I’ve seen beaver in Albertson’s over a pair of sweat pants and commercialson local TV advertising ladies petting their chinchillas–prrrr. But not everyone is so accepting. Sherri Shepard of The View was called “disgusting” after she modeled a full length fur on the show one day although she expressed how unsure she felt about wearing it considering the antagonism against fur wearers–mainly PETA and vegetarians. And Michelle Obama, who does not wear fur, has been hailed as a fur rights leader by PETA who used her image in an ad campaign “Fur Free and Fabulous”.  In Texas, I think fur wearing is a combination of weather–it’s the coldest winter we’ve had in 13 years–and fur fatigue. For lots of (older) women, having a fur is a sign of wealth, accomplishment. It’s taken care of, passed down to daughters etc. And I’d love to see a PETA freak try and throw blood or rip off a Texans coat.  This isn’t California. We carry guns in the pockets of our furs! For the record, I think a full length fur isn’t cruel it’s tacky  in a mistress sort of way–full length is a sugar daddy coat. You give a wife a wrap or a stole or gloves. If I’m going to wear animal parts I prefer a good leather jacket or gloves. I don’t get the fashion sense of  fur. Who wants to constantly feel like your inside of a bear? And I really don’t get dropping thousands on a coat and wearing sweats underneath!