Alex--Missouri

Last summer, just a day or two before school started, I walked past Alex and some friends who were busy in some hot, noontime skateboarding. On my next lap around the park, I stopped and asked if I could take pictures. The others were a little shy, but Alex said, “Well, if you want a picture of someone messing up all the time, I’m the one.”

“Do you wear that hat all the time?” I asked. “It’s pretty nice.”

“Yeah. Mostly.”

It's an expensive cap with all the NFL team logos on it.

Actually, she pretty good on a skateboard. She’s unafraid, she’s fast and she can do several skillful things. She's better on that thin little rolling board than I am with my camera. I couldn't catch her in the air.

My First Wife--Kansas

She really doesn't like to wear a hat. I don't know why. Every hat that ever got plunked on her head has made her look cute, sexy, young and thin. When she puts a hat on, I can't resist grabbing my camera. This picture was taken on the evening of our 44th Wedding Anniversary.

My Fair Lady—England

My First Wife and I recently attended the play, “My Fair Lady.” What a performance! That play is full of wonderful hats! Better yet, it's full of wonderful junior high and high school students who performed it. They played in the orchestra, too, and did all the stage work, and—oh, we’re proud of those kids. All of them.

These are not the best photos because I took them—without flash!—from the back of their small auditorium. Nevertheless, we’re proud of these hats…er, kids!

Eliza Doolittle and Col. Pickering

Freddie Eynsford-Hill, Eliza Doolittle, and the Colonel again.

The Ascot “crowd.” Look at those hats!

And the young man, third from the right, is our grandson. Uh-oh. Now you know why we went to the play. But really: you shoulda been there.

Mill Creek Trail--Kansas

When you go out walking on one of Eastern Kansas' many trails, you meet the neatest folks. Like this hatted family that was out being a family together. Bless 'em.



And then this Mommy was carefully leading her girls across the road and on up the trail. All three of them smiled at me and said, "Hi." Bless 'em, too.

Eric and Steve--Missouri

Ever seen policemen filling their motorcycle gas tanks in a public gas station? Well, I pulled into a gas station the other day and two of them pulled in next to me. Eric and Steve. Steve's the one filling his gas tank.

They're really not policemen; they're rent-a-cops and were on their way to escort a funeral procession. I talked to Eric a minute. He said they're both proud of their jobs--and their hats.