I just did an inventory: 81.
Well, this is embarrassing. When we moved house last year, I know we tried to cull out excess stuff, including an inexplicable number of hats. I distinctly remember piling them into a box destined for the thrift store, and only keeping those that “sparked joy”. So, why are there still so many, crammed into shelves in different closets? Did they reproduce? There may even be more I don’t know of, since we still haven’t finished unpacking. Prompted by Retrospect, I just did an inventory: 81. Okay, that is for 2 people. But still.
That doesn’t include the two bicycle helmets either.
The hats fall roughly into a few categories. First, the sentimental and costume sort. A fez. A Turkish hat with veil and bangles. An Argentinian flat brimmed straw hat. Uighur embroidered cap. Scottish Glengarry cap. Lamb’s fleece Karzai and Russian ear flap hats. A coonskin cap with tail (surprisingly practical for shoveling the driveway).
There are the hats for the sun. A couple of broad-brimmed felt hats, two canvas hats and a Tilley hat, two Mexican straw hats. A sentimental bucket hat with the insignia of a family hotel, and a captain’s hat. Not to mention two hats with nets that can be pulled over the face to protect from mosquitoes. Not that we have ever used them, but we might. Please note that the 4 or 5 cowboy hats and several more canvas and straw hats did not make the cut, so it could be worse. We do have some great hat bands though.
Since we live above the 49th parallel, we need hats for the cold. Non-ironic hats with ear flaps that we really wear and think no one laughs—four of them at least. One of them is my dad’s old army hat from the 1940’s that couldn’t possibly have been adequate against the cold at Fort Snelling, Minnesota. A couple of Afghani wool berets. And toques, we got ‘em! At least 8, in different colours, and that doesn’t include the maroon “pussy” hat a friend knit back in 2017 for the women’s march.
There is no good explanation for the 44 baseball caps that rival our warehouse-worth of T shirts—and don’t make me inventory those. But remember, these are the ones that were saved. Most come from places visited, teams we rooted for, teams we were on, events attended, gifts from friends or family. How can you throw out the hat from the Laguna San Ignacio where you saw so many gray whales? Or the one from the arboretum where you took your mom for her last outing before she died?
Actually, maybe I don’t have too many hats–just stories I am not yet ready to throw away.
Khati Hendry
Wonderful, sweet story Khati.
Of course they’re not just hats, but rather pieces of your life’s story.
Enjoy the memories!
An astounding variety of hats that make wonderful memories, Khati. I so enjoyed this story, and right you are, each has a place. Welcome to the hat-lovers club!
Wow, Khati, you have even more hats than Marian, although, as you say, it IS for two people. Even without pictures you have done a wonderful job of describing your collection … but … a couple of pictures would be so nice. I would especially love to see the Turkish hat with veil and bangles and the Uighur embroidered cap. But any that you wanted to share would do. Thanks for this hats story.
I loved this story, Khati. And your last sentence really says it all beautifully. So just enjoy — and continuing sharing with us — all those wonderful stories.
First, Khati, I love your title. It brought back great childhood memories and made me WANT to read your story. And what a tale you have to tell…of places you have traveled, souvenirs from wonderful adventures. You own a FEZ! A coonskin cap! Wow! All of us have prosaic hats/caps. Yours are full of ethnic meaning, and wonderful memories. And, as you point out, replete with stories that someday you’ll share. I, for one, can’t wait for you to continue sharing those stories.
Thanks for adding more photos. Love them!
The last line of your story is perfect. Having moved in the last year from our house of 45 years, I know very well the impulse to give away anything that doesn’t spark joy. But I’m glad I kept those things that inspire special memories and stories.
Hurray for your wonderful last sentence, which brought profound depth to the entire previous exercise. Not frilly at all–neither the hats nor the underlying stories.
Wonderful story, Khati…and wonderful photos, so glad you added them! I say keep the hats…and thus the memories. You’ve led such a fascinating life…thanks for sharing it with us, I look forward to more.
Thanks for adding the photos. They make the story even more interesting.