So Many Hats

I am pondering on the all the different hats people wear in one day. For example, we’ll just take a look at all the hats I wore yesterday.  

Work Hat – This is the business casual wearing, avoid cussing, writing and speaking proper English, trying to keep all conversations professional, please and thank you, yes sir and ma’am person.

Friend Hat – This is the going for a walk to chat with my friend. The lean on me and yet opening up to talk about my issues as well. Support and listen, really listen, not just wait patiently for your chance to talk.

Daughter Hat – Chatting with the parents to find out how they are doing, what the plans are, tell them what I’m doing the whole time trying to avoid cussing and giving them

Sports Hat-  Showing the dedication by showing up for soccer practice, running, kicking, chatting, some cussing, aggressive, competitive, enthusiastic , the whole time while still having fun and learning.

Chill Hat – Hanging out having dinner with friends. Sitting back and just hanging with the baby, knowing when to ignore fake tears, watch TV, talk only during the commercial while football is on.  Add friend hat at the same time.

Home Hat – sitting on the couch watching TV, playing on the computer, knowing I should be scrubbing my tub that I’ve been successfully avoiding. I am the lover of all things soft and fluffy like puppies and my stuffed animals a hula hopper in the living room and cereal aficionado.

I guess my pondering isn’t so much as the different hats is much as what keeps them from becoming masks?  I can wear multiple hats any day of any week at any point. What worries me is being lost under all those hats. Is there, even a true self? Is it the Chill Hat? Maybe the Daughter Hat? I know that the older I get it I will have more hats like Wife Hat, Career Hat vs my Job Hat, Mom Hat, or Dog Owner(hopefully sooner rather than later) Hat, all to be add with my other hats like Aunt Hat, Sister Hat, Bookworm Hat, Runner Hat, Writer Hat, Pondering Hat etc.  

The first thought that comes to my head is to be true to thy self. But clearly, after just pondering a few of these hats, I am not sure if I am ever totally hatless. If there were not hats  would I just be a brown eyes, curly hair, 5’2” flesh bag of bones? Or maybe all these hats make up thy self? Maybe the challenge or pondering isn’t to find the hatless self as much as just a balanced self? Maybe the way to keep the hats from becoming masks is to keep them proportional and evenly stacked? As long as one of the hats, like the Work Hat doesn’t become too big and it stays in place then I don’t have to worry about them growing, consuming the other hats and becoming the mask? Is the answer to this self analysis the same as it is for eating and drinking? Always, always, always in moderation? Does that mean each and every one of these hats are needed to make up Thy Self, which is a multi-dimensionally and probably not color coordinated stack, that sits on top of this flesh bag of bones? Today, I shall lean towards yes. Tomorrow, is another day, and another set of hats.

Getting in touch with my inner Mario.

The other day is was in the ladies restroom at work and walked in to my favorite stall. I don’t know if everyone has a favorite or default stall, but I do, I am a creature of habit. Anyway, I was in the process of closing the door behind me when I realized the top was down. Odd, and then I realized it was because the toilet needed to be flushed. No worries, I can work the handle, but it just giggled uselessly up and down and so I decided to use another stall.

As I was going to leave the bathroom I had a moment where I was like, I think I can solve this problem. So I walk back into my favorite stall, took the lid off of the toilet, place it on the seat and check out the tank. Yup, the chain to the handle and the little floater thing that control the water lever and the valve that opens up to let more water out had come undone. I stuck my arm in the tank reconnected everything, flushed the toilet, put the top back on and went to go wash my hands.

It wasn’t until I was walking out of the restroom that I started to shake my head, laugh and even question what I did. I mean, fixing that issue on a toilet, not a problem. It took all of a minute. But why? I’m not a plumber. Heck, I don’t wear overalls with a red shirt, (I do wear overalls. Have you tried a pair lately? They are quite fantastic.) white hat, or have a mustache. I have no idea why. Still don’t. I could say it was me doing my little bit of good for the day, or because I can so I did. But whatever the reason, the toilet now works. Win for me!

Doodle Adventure

The other day I was in a meeting for work. It was about 2:30 in the afternoon, I had eaten lunch about an hour ago, and I’m trying to stick with just one cup of coffee a day. This silly little rule is mostly for concern about the color of my teeth and creating a caffeine addiction. I’ve seen people deal with them before and I don’t want to be part of that group.

Since it is very unprofessional to put your head down and start drooling in a peaceful sleep, the next best thing I can do it doodle. One, it pulls out my 3^rd grade artistry, it keeps my mind from humming circus music, and still allows me to sort of pay attention.  Below is the picture I drew. I felt it was kind of entertaining. My boss looked over kind of shook his head. I wasn’t scolded so I guess that means I’m okay….? Anyway, I figured a nice task would be to try and write a short story about it. So here is my attempt.

My doodle. (I cannot figure out how to rotate the picture.)

“This would be a great adventure! I can be a kick ass pirate like Johnny Depp. It would be great to have some peace and quiet; I need some time to myself. Sure I can drive a boat, sure I know what I’m doing,” thought Scott as holds up his help me sign.

He wasn’t sure where he was. His plan for that day had been to escape from his nagging girlfriend, his job that didn’t appreciate him, and the mother that wouldn’t stop whining about not having any grandkids yet. If he had to have that conversation with her one more time, he might lose it.

So he did what any person does in that situation, grab a wad of cash and go make some random adventures happen.

Scott’s day had started out in a spa with a nice massage, sipping on fruity drinks, having his body rubbed down by a nice lady, possibly take a nap.  However, he didn’t get any further then the counter. The receptionist told him that they were all booked for the next 6 weeks, but if he would like she could pencil him in on the 27^th? Scott kindly declined and went to go try something else.

Scott had always thought about going hot air ballooning. Hang out in a basket, see the city from a new perspective, the wind in his air, the sun on his face, yes! That’s it! He quickly did a Google search on his phone and pulled up the nearest hot air balloon companies. He called the first number and the phone rang, and rang, and rang, and rang, and rang, and rang, and rang. After seven rings he gave up. He tried the next location. After only two rings the person picked up. However, he informed him that last time they crash landed in a Christmas Tree farm and their balloon was still being repaired. Scott thanked him for his time and tried lucky phone number three. After a few tentative rings, the company picked up. They said they could take him out, but it would have to be later in that day. It is best to fly in the mornings and later in the evenings. Scott scheduled a flight for later that evening.

Scott looked at his watch and realized he had about six hours to kill before he was airborne. He knew a great oyster bar on the beach so decided to grab a beer and chill there for a little bit.