The down comforter was a wedding present, back in 1992. It lasted almost 10 years longer than the marriage. (I am counting from the point of critical failure, 4/30/96, rather than any legal formalities.) It was a fine comforter, and served me well in 6 different homes, inside various cloth covers.

Last night was chilly, and I reached to pull up the covers in the middle of the night. I accidentally reached between the buttons of the thick flannel duvet cover my mother sent me this winter. So when I pulled, the light cloth tore. There was an explosion of feathers. Safety pins did not close the tear at all. It was too frayed, and just ripped open around the pins. Folding it over and fastening with clothespins seemed to help a little, but the cover is still full of feathers, and only closed by buttons 6" apart. I don't know how feathers can fly everywhere when they stick so well to flannel, and there was so much flannel in my bed.

I think I'll be sleeping under blankets for a while.