lost and found

Quite awhile ago I realized I had lost a hat. Now I don't usually lose things, misplace maybe, but not lose. But after scouring every possible location I had given up and decided this hat was gone, must have slipped out of my pocket. I was cleaning out a glue pot on the edge of the concrete and weeds in front of the shop yesterday and I noticed something squished into the ground. I looked closer. It was my hat! Now this poor hat had been out in the rain, sun, and probably backed over by a car more than once. But I'm carefully picking out the stickers, and I've cleaned the button, and have decided the unique pattern caused by the fading (it was folded up) just gives it character. And my knitting has held up fine, not one broken stitch. I may have to give it a bit of a wash, but it will go back into the collection. And next time I put it in a pocket I will be careful that it not one it can fall out of.