wool hats

So I am in the market for a new wool hat.

I volunteered at a homeless shelter on Christmas Day, and a homeless man stole my hat (and my down vest and shearling gloves). I feel guilty about even feeling bad about it, because whoever he was, he obviously needed the warm clothes more than I did. Plus, he left my wallet totally untouched. (Yes, I really was stupid enough to leave my wallet and jacket unattended as I wandered through the bunk beds on the "hard core homeless¹" floor of the shelter, wiping down bed frames and walls with bleach solution. I kinda deserved to have it stolen.)

I am very particular about wool hats. When my mother went to Iceland on vacation, she brought me back the warmest hat I've ever had. It was made from Icelandic wool, completely lined with fleece, and it had ear flaps that you could tie under your chin. Wool is warm, but as I'd discovered during my first Western Massachusetts winter, it doesn't necessarily keep out the wind.

This hat did. The fleece lining acted as a wind breaker, and the fact that I could tie it around my chin created a seal that meant no cold air could sneak in under the edges and disturb my large, sensitive ears. It was wonderful.

And then I lost it.

I searched for a replacement for years, and finally, after deciding I couldn't justify spending $44 plus shipping from Iceland to buy a hat that looked, from a blurry picture like it might be the same, I settled on buying one very much like this (though it cost significantly less). That's the one I lost on Tuesday.

So now what? I live in freaking Maryland. It's 53 degrees outside right now. A fleece lined wool hat with ear flaps is the very definition of overkill.

But I'm attached. And besides, I might not always be in Maryland. Maybe I'll move to Boston (or Canada, if Huckabee gets elected. I'm dead serious about that.) You never know! So I'm once again surfing around looking for a replacement.

Here's my current favorite. I can't decide if I'm willing to be seen in public with cat ears on my head. In college, no problem. But shouldn't I have grown up a little by now? yeah, not really.

(1) According to the director of the shelter, the "hard core homeless" are those who only want to come inside when it's cold enough outside that they risk hypothermia.