The Hat

One especially cold January a few years ago, the wind chill factor had been in the negative double digits for days. I watched the local news report on a downtown homeless shelter that was so full, they were turning people away. I sat on the comfy sofa in my warm living room, covered in a blanket and sipping a cup of hot tea. Then guilt pulled up a chair.

The next day, I called the shelter to ask what they needed. Someone picked up the phone in the shelter's kitchen. "I could use some spices, canned meat and dry goods," the cook said. I went shopping, picking up some of the items he'd requested. I looked at the measly half-cart full of goods. My money wasn't going to go very far. Then I went to Walmart and bought up all the men's hats that were left (5). We loaded up the car and headed downtown.

We pulled up in front of the shelter. Men streamed inside, some standing in the entrance trying to soak up a little heat. My husband, Tom, ran inside to get some assistance to unload. My young son and I sat inside the car, a little uneasy, as the men surrounded the car looking at us curiously. One man came up to the passenger window. "Do you need help?" he asked me. I could tell he was so cold. His nose was running. His bare hands were shoved in the pockets of his thin jacket. You're asking me?, I thought, feeling guilty again. "We just have some donations--hats, food and stuff," I told the man at my passenger door.

Tom was back now, with a helper. They quickly unloaded the boxes from the back of the car. The man at the window leaned in toward me and whispered,"Could I please have a hat?" But it was too late. Tom and the other man had emptied the car and disappeared into the shelter, lost in the massive crowd. "You can go ask them for one," I said, knowing the hats were gone by then. "Ok. Thank you," he nodded and went inside.

I think about that man often. Why didn't I buy more hats and go back? I think about him every year at this time when wandering the discount store and seeing the display of knit hats for a dollar a piece. Did he ever get a hat?

In a few weeks, I'll be celebrating an almost-monumental-birthday. Well, what I'll actually be celebrating is the fact that I am infinitely blessed. I have an amazing family, friends, a nice home, a car that runs, a fat poodle, two cats and a quirky bunny. I have a good job, my health, a warm winter coat and, yes, a few hats. I'm thinking of throwing myself a birthday party. But the only presents I want are new men's knit hats. Just those cheap knit ones you can get at Walmart or Target. I'm on a hat crusade this year. Won't you join me?