tip your cap

Oh yes, it's another must-have on Sara's list. A list which is suprisingly longer than I ever realized.

But this topic is no joke. This is my oh-so-serious entry.

Today's must-have item is: a Boston Red Sox hat.

There are a million and one reasons why EVERY person should own a Red Sox hat, and if you live in the city of Boston, I won't even begin to waste my time by explaining those reasons to you. Do yourself a favor and get off the computer and go down to the closest store and pick one up The start at $5 and peak at god-knows-what. You can afford one, I have faith in you.

Not only are you hiding your bad hair day, but you're supporting the home town team with an item you don't ever need an excuse to wear. Like the college sweatshirt, beantown caps go with everything- you can't go wrong even if you try. But more importantly, they not only match, but you are encouraged to wear them with crazy outfits! Prom dressed, pajamas, workout clothing, day-to-day outfits, professional attire- your Sox hat matches it all!

Other teams have tried for that authentic, dirty beantown look and feel, but none have succeeded like the Red Sox.

Even the homeless people on the streets of Boston have them! I'm serious here, you have NO excuse!

Wear a different team and I promise you'll be heckled. I don't even want to talk about the possibility of wearing a Yankees one- let's put it this way: my roommate had one. HAD. She still hasn't noticed that I threw it out the window. You think I'm kidding.

Another sad but true fact: I have around 30 of them. Every shape, size, color, make, model and idea. I actually got suprised when I saw someone with one I didn't have/hadn't stopped myself from buying the other day. Turns out he was a partner in the Red Sox organization and the one on his head was one of three made. That didn't stop me from trying to steal it, of course, but needless to say I failed miserably.

Like parents with their children, I try not to play favorites with my hats. But who can help it.

My obvious favorites are my authentic beantown caps. I've bought one for each new season for the past few years, and I like to think it brings my boys luck from afar. The newest is a white and green hat with two shamrocks surrounding the B. I love it, SO cute, and I love representing my Irish heritage.

Another favorite is my bright orange one, which I unfortunately don't have a picture of. It's safe and sound at my home in Rhode Island, of the way of crushing college furniture and disgruntle roommates. I bought it off a cart in Hampton Beach, NH for $5.00, clearly for it's unique look. I've still yet to see another like it. My goal for this hat is to have Lenny Dinardo, my BoSox boyfriend, scribble his name on the brim. He has yet to know this information, but don't worry, he'll find out.

My "official" World Series 2004 hat is another obvious favorite. Not only is it linked to one of the greatest moments of my life (along with baseball history) but I consider the purchase of the hat a personal victory. Stores all over New England were sold out of this exact hat the next day, must to my dismay. I literally drove all over the state of RI (I know I know- it's not THAT far a drive) in search of my beloved hat, dying to share with my BoSox the same fashion statement. Well, after giving up, I finally learned to use eBay. $45.00 + S&H bought my my beloved World Series hat- one which I could have bought in the stores the very next week for only $20- $25. But it's not about the money, it's about the victory. My personel victory, the team victory, and my never-dying devotion to my boys. (Or obsession...Whichever)

There are a bigillion other stores, but I promise not to bore you. All I want you to take away from this is the fact that yes, even YOU need to own a Red Sox hat! So what are you waiting for? Go, shoo, scat, move!!!