Shoes came first. As he grew from baby to toddler, he began to realize that his mouth could do more than just cry and eat. Saying words could make his parents jump faster than a tear ever did. After he mastered the usual “mama,” and “dada” and “bye-bye,” he claimed his footwear.
“My shoes!” He exclaimed, untying them, pulling them off and hugging them close to his chubby little body. For some mysterious reason, he believe that “my shoes” were to be carried in his hands, not worn of his feet. He preferred to wear “barefoots,” but he carried “my shoes” everywhere, showing them to anyone who would pay attention. “My shoes,” he said shoving them in a friend’s face.
He was more or less indifferent about the rest of his wardrobe, condescending to wear just about anything tugged onto his small frame. But he did not like his face covered even briefly. Like a bull seeing red, he fought every shirt pulled over his head regardless of color.
Hats were a different matter. As an infant, he pulled off the few caps ever tied in place under his chin to protect him from the winter wind. But once he could walk, hats took on a new meaning. First, he tried to balance “my shoes” on his head. They never really fit.
Thereafter, he claimed every hat in the house. Brother’s were too big for him, but he wore them - the baseball caps, the cowboy hat, the molded plastic fire chief’s hat, the army helmet, the swim cap, a blanket, a cereal bowl - he tried them all.
Perhaps the strangest hat of all came with a new pair of shoes. As a favor with the high tops, the shoe company distributed crazy-shaped half spheres dubbed blooper balls. The toy was designed to spin erratically when kicked across the yard. But from day one, he wore it like a skull cap. The rubbery tight fitting blue half ball was his favorite. It was a battle to get it off for bath or nap time. He still liked other hats, but he preferred wearing them atop the blue dome specialty.
From time beginning, man has worn headgear for two reasons. First, to protect against the elements and secondly, to show ceremonial rank. It was during modern times, that the fashion industry took over.
As for baby, he’s grown into a boy. He still likes hats for a variety of reasons, most very logical. But why did he like them when he was so young? Maybe, it was to imitate the grown up world. Maybe he was merely exploring what his body could do. We seldom understand how the minds of the very young work. But for the longest time, his head was a handy place to hang a hat.
1981
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