The Man In The Red Hat

I was out with the family today. We were shopping in Kendal, noted for being 'the town of lost men', a tag that was earned during WW1 when almost all men of age volunteered for war and were sent to the front, never to return.

But that was not on my mind at that moment, as we drove around trying to find a place to park, and I fell into one of my moods. Inexplicably so, as it was a fine day and I was untroubled. But I am often found for no good reason thinking deeply about our tenuous grip on reality, and our place in the universe.

As we scoured the streets I spotted a tall man with his wife, they were window shopping, but what grabbed my attention was his red hat. It made him stand out from the other shoppers as they moved about him. I only saw him for a brief moment then he was gone as we drove past.

I couldn't help but single him out because of that hat, and as the day passed I wondered about him more and more.

How was his life and his health? Was he happy? Did he notice me as we drove past in our blue Civic? I questioned myself later about why I would ponder the life of a complete stranger, and I wondered if I am alone in these observances or do others share my inquisitive nature.

I ended the day and wrote in my diary that today, while out shopping I saw a man in a red hat.