Can I just say that I have never been a big fan of hooded sweatshirts? By the way, that’s what we used to call them when I was a teenager. Now we call them hoodies. Either way, I never liked the way hoodies felt around my neck. I didn’t wear hoods, either. So to me, a hoodie represented a sweatshirt with excess of fabric I had no use for.

That was then. Things are different now. What happened? I can explain by telling you about the day I became a hoodie guy. It was a strange day, indeed. It started with early morning plans to spend most of the day outdoors.

• My Hoodie Was a Gift

To be clear, the hoodie I used that fateful day was given to me as a gift. I never would have purchased it myself. I already had a number of regular sweatshirts in my closet, and I saw no need to expand that inventory. But being thrifty, I also saw no reason to get rid of the hoodie I was gifted. I stuck it in the closet.

On the day in question, my wife and I were getting ready to head out the door. Checking the weather revealed that the chilly temperatures were not going to warm up too much throughout the day. Furthermore, our destination was known for consistent breezes. I knew from experience that I would probably be a bit chilly if I didn’t dress appropriately

• Picking the Right Clothes

At this point, you need to know that I am a disabled American who uses a wheelchair whenever I leave the house. I have chosen to propel myself in a manual wheelchair so that I get at least some exercise. That means I can work up quite a sweat. It also means I have to choose the right clothing every time I go out.

I knew on that day that the chilly temperatures would not prevent me from getting a bit warm, and possibly sweaty as well. I figured a t-shirt and one of my standard sweatshirts would make the best combination. But then I realized something: with that set up, the cool breeze blowing on my neck would make me feel cold – especially since I would be perspiring. The obvious solution was that lonely hoodie that had been sitting unused in the closet for months.

• An Amazingly Comfortable Day

I set aside my preconceptions and decided to give the hoodie a try. To my amazement, I was comfortable the entire day. I stayed toasty warm without overheating; my neck stayed warm as well. And when the thermometer copied the setting sun, the hood did its job.

The most amazing thing was how comfortable the hoodie was. I had read comments on the Plurawl website, comments talking about how soft and comfortable their Latinx sweatshirts are, but I had never experienced anything similar myself – until that day. If all Plurawl’s products are that soft and comfortable, it’s no wonder they have so many fans.

• A Lesson Learned

The day I became a hoodie guy I discovered that my perceptions of hoodies were completely wrong. The hooded sweatshirts of my youth may truly have been uncomfortable. Yet the hoodies of my middle age are anything but. You will never hear me dissing hoodies again.

I still wear heavy shirts from time to time. I still have a fleece I wear during the winter months. But there are days when only a hoodie will do. That must mean I’m really a hoodie guy now.