When I was at summer camp (way back in the day) we had a lovely tradition relating to lost and found items (one that is still going on, according to my dear sister). Camper X would stand up at camp meeting and say they found someone’s pink sweatshirt down by the lake and Camper Y would jump up from the crowd to reclaim their item. The whole camp would then sing “Reunited and it feels so good.” On some days, we sang that line quite a few times.

I thought of that today because I lost my beloved straw cowboy hat. Fell right out of my handbag. On a New York City street. My hopes of finding it were not high. I was crushed.

As those near and dear to me know, I fancy myself a bit of a country girl. The hat is an essential part of that, along with the boots and music everyone loves to make fun of (but never asks me to turn off. Hmm…). I bought at the hat in Dallas, Texas at the hotel gift shop when I was in town for RWA in 2007. I then proceeded to wear it all the time. I love it best when I’m driving because it keeps my hair out of my face and the sun out of my eyes. And it goes along with the songs I’m always singing along to…

So my beloved hat is lost. I did the obvious thing, which was to retrace my steps. And then the most glorious thing happened—I found it! Some blessed stranger had found my hat and stuck in on a USPS mailbox on 7th Avenue. Many more blessed strangers did not take my fabulous hat—perhaps because it was too small, too beaten up, or too country for all those city folk passing by. But anyway…to whoever found my hat and stuck it right where I might see it—THANK YOU!!!