(This is Not a Metaphor)
I’ve come to realize that I’ve been wearing many hats. Not in the metaphorical sense — although juggling half a dozen clients, coaching little league, and generally managing 90% of our home life would certainly qualify — but actual, literal hats.
It started gradually, with the quest for a decent sun hat that didn’t look like I was a) playing Amazon rainforest explorer, or b) in such a wide-brimmed hat that I look like some wealthy socialite relaxing in a beachfront cabana. And then of course there were the running hats, the coaches’ caps, the not-exactly-a-baseball-cap hats… pretty soon I had several styles to choose from when I traveled.
But here’s the thing: hats cover a multitude of sins. Bad hair day? Hat. Gray roots taking over my hair? Hat. Hair blowing in my face at a ballgame? Hat. Keeping the sun off of my face while I run. Hat. No hairdryer in the hotel room in Europe? Hat. Keeping warm on winter mornings while walking The Assistant to school. Hat.
I realized that maybe, just maybe, I was starting to have a problem when hat ads began following me around the internet. “Interested in sun hats? Wool hats? Try this lovely cloche!”
Worse, I found myself clicking through to the various websites. “Ooh, this one has a decent sized brim AND it’s packable!” Because it’s totally worth it to spend money on another hat because it’s protecting my delicate freckled skin.
Ahem.
On the bright side, though, I haven’t had a sunburn on my face in eons, and my hair never looks windblown in photos.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, there’s a packable sun hat that I have my eye on.
If you do find an actual affordable and packable sun hat that falls somewhere between Crocodile Hunter and Mrs. Howell, please do share. I do love the one I typically travel with, but the brim isn’t as big as it should be and also it’s a cheapie from Forever 21 that will most likely disintegrate in the not too distant future.