In her last years my mother was always cold, and she complained about it regularly. She always admired ladies she saw with mink hats, and since she rarely asked for anything, a few years ago, I decided to get her one for Christmas.
After some searching I found a company called–Big Fur Hats. I spent a ridiculous amount of money–had she known, my frugal mother would have been horrified–to buy her one. I was pretty pleased with myself when I presented it to her, but I could see instantly that she did not like it. Gamely, she tried it on, and I think she wore it once or twice, but she hated it, I could tell.
The Big Fur Hat (BFH) is mine now, and it is an essential part of my equipment on Washington Island. I don’t care what I look like there–which is part of the fun, I admit–so I wear it when the dogs and I go for our walks. I look ridiculous. Nevertheless, it is a lifesaver, especially when the wind is blowing. Without it, I would be forced to shorten our walks, the source of the dogs’ joy, and my inspiration.
There may be lesson here, but I’m not sure what it is.
A few weeks after blowing all that money on the unloved BFH, I found a vintage mink hat in a consignment store for $12. My mother loved it.
That’s mine now, too.
J.F. Riordan 
I had a similar hat, only fake fur, it was black, I wore it to my mothers funeral and probably looked pretty bizarre, Reminds me of a story, my Dad bought my Mother a mink jacket, it was a wedding anniversary gift, she made him take it back, because “what would people say?” I was crushed, and felt sad for my dad who really thought he was doing something special.
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Great story! That is just the sort of thing that happens to me. I also have a big fur hat. and like you, half the fun is wearing it and not caring how ridiculous I look. 🙂
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