Bring Back the Hat
March 8th, 2008
Ok. Confession time. I frequent digg.com. Say what you will, but I find it interesting to see what the internet culture thinks is noteworthy. Everything from funny pictures, breaking news, interesting movies, Apple rumors, political drama to - yes - spirituality makes it to the front page of digg. And while I could spend a lot of time speaking on any one of these topics, what I really intend to do is ask a question. A question of gargantuan proportions: When did guys stop wearing hats?
Guys, remember being young? Remember tying a shoestring to a small stick and using it as a bull-whip? Remember always being on the lookout for that hat - you know the one - the one that would make Henry Jones Jr. proud? I do. And quite honestly, not much has changed since then. Inside, every one of us wants one. So why don’t we wear them? I have a couple of theories: We’re uneducated on where to get them and if we were to find one, we fear public ridicule.
Men, it’s time to put the fear aside, get educated, and wear the hat - and I’m not the only one who thinks so. A few days ago, this story made it to the front page of digg: Bring Back the Hat. It is an article from the blog, “The Art of Manliness” (what a name!). But most importantly, there are over 2,500 guys who agree - it’s time to bring back the hat - and not just the Akubra Adventurer, but dress hats of all kinds - and we’re not talking baseball, scull, or any other silly kind of cap.
Finding out that there was a movement of men who believed in the revival of the hat struck a personal chord within me. As I said earlier, there are a couple of reasons we men are afraid of hats. But for me - there are one other reasons I have yet to find my perfect hat. A reason that is far more terrifying than public humiliation. For me, dear reader…my biggest obstacle to overcome is not fear, knowledge, or even lack of funds - my biggest obstacle is sitting next to me, even as I write this. My dear wife.
For the past month I’ve been “in the market” for an ivy cap. Simple, versatile & handsome…but not in the eyes of my better half. When told of my desire, her reply was swift & cutting: “You’re not serious. You’ll look like an old man.”
My reply was something like a gentle puppy, “Please?”
“No.”
I’d put the shame behind me. I’d conquered my fears & researched the hat. But there is no overcoming the firm rebuke of my wife. “No.”
I’m not angry or bitter, and yet I do tend to waft into daydreams - imagining myself walking my dog, wearing my Ivy Cap and being kept warm in my Members Only jacket…
A man can dream.
~Pastor Matt
March 13th, 2008 at 9:23 am
That ivy cap looks a lot the flat caps that elderly working class men around here still wear. I’ve been wearing a fedora fairly often for over a year now (on the suggestion of a girl who has since become my wife), and really like it. I do sometimes have problems working out when it should be removed and when it is acceptable to continue wearing it, though.