Member-only story
The Hat That Went to Sea
A childhood memory that made me see the people and creativity behind handmade things
When I was a kid, my mother used to take us on an annual trip with her office staff. I always looked forward to those trips. There was something exciting about going somewhere new with my mother and spending the day outside.
I had a hat like the one in this picture. It was made from reed leaves, a natural material, and made by local artisans. It was also very lightweight. As a child, I was easily overstimulated by certain clothes and accessories, and I didn’t like things that felt heavy, tight, or uncomfortable. But I loved this hat. It was light enough that I could wear it happily without thinking about it.
One year, we went on our trip during the monsoon season. The sea was rough that day, but that didn’t stop me from running towards it. I ran into the water, and before I knew it, the rough waves pulled me in. I remember being thrown around and ending up covered in sea debris. My mother jumped into the water and grabbed me. She saved me, but somewhere in those rough waves, I lost my hat.
For a long time afterwards, I would ask my mother, “Amma, where do you think my hat is now?” Maybe it went to the northern sea. Maybe it reached India. I had no idea where the ocean might have taken…
