My best friend is a freak of nature

"Shan, c'mere -- you've gotta see these awful hats."

B, her mama and I are milling around the gift shop at a Cracker Barrel, smelling candles, pressing buttons that make felt-covered Santas dance and mocking some truly horrible T-shirt sayings.

I round the corner to where they're standing, facing a shelf full of half-off hats. And "awful" is being kind. They're floppy, they're in colors that don't (or shouldn't) exist in nature -- The CB is being optimistic with their "50% Off" sign.

I immediately throw a royal blue plaid newsboy cap (five words that should never be put together) and throw up a peace sign. B and her mom laugh obligingly.

After a few comments (from me) about how unnaturally large my head is, I pick up another plaid hat, this one with a strange buckle thing on the side, and hand it to B.

"Here," I snort. "Try this gem."

She pulls it on, and:

{Angels singing}

Her mom and I stare at her. "What?" B says self-consciously.

SHE LOOKS ADORABLE. How is this possible??

In the end, despite her protests that she's never worn a hat in her life other than her band uniform in high school, we basically force her to get the hat. Anyone who can take a ridiculous-looking piece of clothing and manage to make it look this adorable needs to share her gift with the world.

In other news, we had a wonderful day of eating, classical music and laughing until our stomachs hurt. And hats. Freakishly flattering hats.

I love you, B! You fabulous freak of nature. :)