No, thankfully not the child. Although, this is a picture of Julie from late 2005, so the child she was then is gone, in a way. She has grown up so much since then.
What’s lost is the hat. Sophie was wearing it this morning when we snuck out to the mall to try on new winter coats while Julie was at pre-school. She had taken it off and was holding it in her hand, and I thought I was keeping an eye on it as we strolled through Macy’s looking at the coats (none that I liked) and waiting for Eddie Bauer and J. Crew to open. We had actually walked all over the place in the store, and then I looked down and noticed that the hat was…..gone. So we walked all over the place again, scanning the floor, me begging the clerks to keep an eye out for it, to make sure it gets to Lost and Found if they see it.
I gave my phone number to the Lost and Found people and tried to explain that this hat is special, that I knit it for my older daughter and that they’ve both worn it and it’s part of our history. I know that to them I am just another self-important holiday shopper, and I can accept it. I am resigned that the hat is probably never coming back to us. It’s hard to imagine someone finding the hat and taking it for themselves – it is not in brand-new condition – but it should have been on the floor somewhere in the store, and yet it was not.
And really, although it was beautiful, and impressively comment-inspiring, it was rather ill-fitting – too narrow around and too tall. And it was knit out of Cascade 220, which can be a bit itchy. I know this because my winter hat is knit out of Cascade 220 and I am constantly scratching my forehead. For those interested, the hat was a kit from KnitWits – the Herbie model.
Anyway, we eventually gave up looking for the hat, and headed on over to look at the coats I had in mind. As I feared, neither of the two stores carried that coats in question in the store. So I ended up calling in the order for the J.Crew one from the store to get the free shipping. And because I wasn’t absolutely certain about the sizing, I ordered it in two different sizes, at least one of which I will return after I try them on. Let’s keep our fingers crossed!
In a little while, I will be dressing the girls in their fabulous matching holiday dresses to go visit Father Christmas. More about that this evening, if I still have the time and energy after teaching my class tonight. Cross your other set of fingers for me that the girls cooperate!
Oh, and I’m editing to add that I just had second thoughts about the coat – not really second thoughts, just additional ruminations. I got another e-mail from Eddie Bauer offering free shipping and I figured what the heck, I’ve already mail-ordered two very expensive coats, why not go for a third? So I ordered the one I was thinking about from there, and will now be returning at least two coats once they’ve all arrived.
Also, I wanted to share this yesterday but forgot: Hip Hip Hooray! I’m wearing my pre-Sophie blue jeans. The post-Sophie blue jeans were getting ridiculously loose, so I summoned up the courage and tried on the size smaller which has been waiting patiently in my closet. They fit great! And they came from Eddie Bauer, so I was going to order another pair of them while I was at it, but guess what? Eddie Bauer no longer makes blue jeans without evil spandex content. I hate stretch pants. I’ll have to go through the pants-finding process again. But at least that can wait till after X-mas. And Julie is waiting patiently for me to bring her some construction paper, so I better go do that.
I really feel for you about the hat! I forgot my angora fingerless mits at a local eatery in Eau Claire, and walked to the car and then back inside again to find them and they had walked off!! Yeah they were not the most fashionable mits, but they were mine doggonnit!
I hope you get the call saying they were found!
The hat will show up eventually. The problem is that by that time nobody will remember that you asked about it, try phoning every other day.
I work at http://www.boysitaliansuits.com and often people lose things that are found under racks or even in pockets days later.
Good Luck!
Good luck getting the hat back. I suggest bringing a picture of the hat with you. I cannot tell you how much it will help – don’t ask. A picture is worth a 1000 words.
Yeah on the Pre-Sophie jeans!! Yeah!! you!!
Woohoo on the jeans Shelly, Yay!! Bummer about the hat. I would never keep an item I’ve found without first turning it in. I have had an item given to me after the proper waiting time, I felt bad and donated it……I’m wierd, I know.
Congrats on the jeans fitting.
You may want to try the mall again for the hat. Sometimes people pick up a lost item like that and perch it on something — so it may not have stayed on the floor for long. Custodians may have then turned it into lost and found by the end of the day. I wouldn’t count on lost and found folks phoning you – even if it ends up there.
I hope that your hat turns up! In regards to the jeans, congrats!! Grumperina likes this website http://truejeans.com/jeans/
For finding jeans that fit well. I am plus size, and they do not have as much in that area, so I have not tried it, but figured that I would pass it on as you seem to do a lot of comparison shopping.
OH, what a shame! I really like the hat, I hope it finds its way back to you! I hope I can get into my pre-Anderson jeans soon too! I’ve got about 5 more pounds to go I think! Em
I’ve heard good things about True Jeans, maybe you could try there.
Here’s another coat: http://www.sierratradingpost.com/p/,84403_Jonathan-Michael-Wool-Cashmere-Coat-For-Women.html