This week’s pondering: “Why do I have so many hats?”
I found myself wondering about that on my own. Usually it’s something I only think about when Priscilla is straightening up the house and says, “Hey buddy! You gotta do something about all your hats!” She didn’t say anything this week, I did it on my own.
Is it just a guy thing?
I admit it …..I like hats. Always have. I can remember going to see the Red Sox at Fenway Park and one of the highlights was going into the souvenir store across the street and seeing the hats for all of the Major League teams. This was before the internet, sliced bread, and indoor plumbing. I’m kidding but it was before the internet. You couldn’t just go the MLB shops to find an out-of-town team. I used to buy a couple because, you have to admit, some of them were pretty cool. I remember I had an Oakland A’s hat back in the 70’s when they had Joe Rudi and Vida Blue.
When I got older and this internet thing came about I started to collect hats. I’m not sure how many I have right now. I have them stored in my closet in a Tote. It was either that or divorce. I have St. Louis, Cleveland, Detroit, Arizona, and a few others. There was a time when I bought one a month and tried to alternate it, one National League, one American League. Then of course you had the get the World Series hat.
“Nice hat!”
I don’t wear them much but I have found that when I do, people stop and ask, “Cubs fan? Who’s your favorite?”
“Uh, I collect hats. I like the hat.”
I can’t count the number of Red Sox hats I’ve had over the years. Ever since I lost my hair I have that wonderful “sweat stain” develop every summer. I don’t think I’ve made it through one season with the same hat since my thirties.
I will say that my hat area in the house is getting a little crowded with Priscilla’s hats this year. She now has Red Sox hats in Camo, White and Yellow (or as she says – “Sunshine Yellow!”).
You have to admit ….the marketing departments are on to something offering so many choices and styles. Then introducing new hats almost every year so that those of us who need H.L.A. (Hat Lovers Annonymous), feel that we have to have the latest. Just take a second and Google “Red Sox hats.” Go ahead, I’ll wait. I probably won’t see you until tomorrow.
Just buy the game hat. But which one?
Every now and then I think about getting the ole hat collection hobby going again. I try to keep it simple and just buy the “game” hat. Each and every team offers a game hat or batting practice hat and some teams have an “alternate” hat now that they wear once a week. See? They know they’ve got some of us hooked.
I know I can’t be alone in this. If you or a close friend or relative suffers with HLA, maybe I’ll ask my church if I can borrow a room for some weekly meetings.
“Hi! I’m Pete and I’m addicted to my hats.”
“Hi Pete! Cool hat!”
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