Back in my yute (hey I like Cousin Vinny!) I often found myself collecting things. The things I collected were usually a reflection of my inherently irreverent (say that one time slowly) nature.
I collected T-shirts. Of course they had to be humorous to say the least. Never insulting. That’s not my style. But often sarcastic.
I collected toys. Not so unusual for yutes you might think. Here I should clarify by yute I mean my college years. A time when toys were absolutely necessary for proper social function.
And I collected hats.
The hat collection was by far the oddest. There was the elephant hat. Big trunk. Big floppy ears. There was the helicopter beanie (of course). There was the 6 pack hat (yes it was a whole 6 pack). And pretty much any outrageous sun hat or fishing hat that has ever emerged from the crazed mind of a human.
Until today, when I was once again having a mutual kick-in-the-butt-to-motivate session with A Girl Called Pete (only she was the one doing all the butt kicking this time), I never realized what a profound statement of my character … or maybe my life path … this hat collection actually was.
Rewind to earlier:
Pete: Workin’ on my next post. Me: I haven’t been that motivated yet. Pete: I’m sure there’s a post about hats lurking in that brain of yours somewhere…. [SHE WAS REFERRING TO AN EARLIER CONVO] What could possibly go wrong? Me: I could stub my toe when I actually get out of bed. Pete: Solution: write post from bed.
Now seeing as this online conversation actually took place roughly 3pm my time, I figured I SHOULD actually get out of bed. So here I am 2 hours later at my desk writing about hat collecting and epiphanies.
So what is it about hat collecting that so says “STEVE”?
Segue to another random conversation:
Generic new person I just met: What do you do for a living? Me: Well generally eat, breath, occasionally even sleep. But if you mean what do I do for work then …
When did we start defining ourselves by what we do for work anyway? I have had many different types of jobs in my life. So many that I would have to take off my shoes and drop my pants to even come close to counting that high. Yet never once did I ever see the job I was doing at any given time as what I “did for a living”. Maybe what I did WHILE living. But the jobs did not define me. Ironically there is a phrase that is often used to describe that kind of job hopping, or to describe someone who does many different things at once.
I have worn many hats.
Now that I am a staggering old man (I categorically deny that my birthday is in six days. I even have proof!) I no longer collect things. Except maybe experiences. The only hats I own are the one or two I use to protect my manly chrome dome from the elements. But it is now apparent to me that I have in fact never actually STOPPED collecting hats.
So the next time someone asks me what I do for a living, I am going to tell them that I am a hat collector. Or maybe I should go with a Mad Hatter.
I have always loved hats, and maybe have a very small collection. I often make them for others.
For me it was more about what wearing and odd hat represented than actually it being a hat . Nowadays I am more about functionality. But a home made hat is a great gift!
Okay Mad Hatter, your birthday is in 6 days and you will always be older than me, despite what Mom says! Keep on collecting hats. I’m wearing about five at a time this month.
Meaning next month (June). I want a different hat for every thing I am doing: 1)single mom hat 2) stage manager hat 3) kids camp director hat 4) workshop leader hat 5) Writing professor hat 6) Literature professor hat and 7) LISA
Now THAT is a hat collection!
It’s ok I never get how old I am right anyway. Have to do the math, which I somehow seem to get wrong all the time.
I have a collection of sports ball caps that would cover the head of every refugee in remote Africa…. Happy early Birthday greetings. Like the rest of us, I assume you are only going to be 29 right?
It is good to know that refugees never need fear the sun or not being able to route for sports teams again!
Thanks! Oddly my aging clock stalled at about 25
They say you should never think of yourself by what you wear or what you do for a living because if you change your clothes or lose your job you might forget who you are. :O
Question is…. how many hats can you wear at the same time? (and if you wear them all, can you still get thru the doorway?)
For some reason you got thrown into the spam folder! Hmmmm
Good question. I am not sure I have reached that limit yet! Though I have had trouble getting through doors before.
I do not know if you are a hatter, but you may indeed be mad. However, that is why I admire you, friend. Personally, I used to love wearing hats; now that I have a head full of dreads, I find that I can no longer wear hats, unless they are specially made, because hats to cover my locks are enormous.
Custom made hats have their charm too!