06/11/08 Nice hat

Years ago one of my childhood cowboy hero neighbors went on a fishing excursion on the Washington coast. I asked him all about it when he got back. The first thing he told me was the captain made him wear tennis shoes instead of his cowboy boots but no way did he give up his cowboy hat. That always stuck in my mind so when my wife and I took a recent cruise to Alaska, I knew just what to wear. Of course, Carole did pack my good shirts, jeans, some t-shirts and slacks, sports coat, dress shirt and tie. Did I say slacks and sports coat? I know, I weakened, but she insisted on a formal cruise souvenir photo. All I can say is her half of the picture came out very nice, I tried, and the photographer just didn't have much to work with for the other half. But back to the wardrobe  while Carole packed all our essentials and anything she thought we might need I made sure I left wearing my black hat. I had no idea I was going to be a marked man. At least I was marked in a good way, the nice comments about my hat started as we boarded the ship and continued in every food serving line, off shore excursion or in the ship's elevators. One word of caution if you wear a cowboy hat on a cruise practice your Texas drawl because everyone asks if you are from Texas. I finally said no I wasn't but the hat was made in Texas. I'm Jeff Keane.