People Who Wear Hats

Maia—Florida

2010-01-01T19:42:00.005-06:00

Maia’s brother had a birthday today (Jan 1). Maia’s dad is downright cool. Maia’s mom published my exceedingly entertaining memoirs last summer.

But only Maia wears a hat!

Not only that, but Maia’s smile can light up Disney World. What a great photo to light up the first post of this year's blog. Thank you, Maia.

Sandy--Kansas

2009-10-19T16:40:00.001-05:00

This is Sandy. She was rounding up kids and parents at church recently (between services, of course) encouraging everyone to participate in our church's "Great Pumpkin" here pretty soon. She's a sweetie. Brave, too.

Kansas Family--Heart of America

2009-09-22T07:16:00.003-05:00

"The family that rides bikes together in the Heart of America stays together."

I took this photo last November (note the trees) and remember what a great day it was. I walked about eight miles that afternoon on a walk/bike path. Anyway, I spied this hearty, handsome, hat-covered family coming and managed to get my camera clicking just in the nick of time.

I don't know their names, but this 1/1000 of a second was the best part of the walk. I like this photo.

Pack--Colorado

2009-09-15T08:21:00.001-05:00

Pack and I grew up in Douglas, Arizona. And like a lot of pals, as soon as they gave us that diploma, we hurried off to the rat race. Natcherly, we lost track of each other easy enough. But thanks to Facebook, we have discovered each other again. I discovered that he wears mucho bueno hats all the time. I also discovered that Pack (not his real name) has a happy and beautiful family. I’m sure that’s because his roots are in Arizona.

Here he is blasting away in a major shooting competition. I wanna play. But look at that plastic ID badge hooked to the back of his hat. The Old West is spinning in its grave!

I guess somebody bought him a razor blade. But they'll never get to his great hats. His name is not really Pack, but don’t we all go a little eccentric when we leave Arizona?

The Tin Man's Brother-in-Law--Kansas

2009-04-15T21:28:00.005-05:00

Tin Man has a brother-in-law? Well, hey, here we are in Kansas, noted for its big farms and big families. I just figured...and anyway it'll make a fine story for my little grandkids.

You can click the picture to see better detail.

Please visit me in Pancake Flats, too. Thank you.

Carol--Kansas

2009-03-16T18:17:00.005-05:00

When I went through the door, there she was, greeting people. I've seen her there before in a few other hats, but never had a chance to take her picture. But last Saturday morning I turned right around, went back to the pickup for my camera.

"Oh, I love hats," she said. "Got all kinds of 'em. I even make my own for special occasions like Valentine's and St. Patrick's."

Carol had on all kinds of green stuff. Hat, beads, jacket--a lot of stuff. But her hat, made with her own hands, was the best of all.

Cat in the Hats--Kansas

2009-03-02T20:35:00.002-06:00

Now here's a cat that would inspire the poetry in all of us. Except Dr. Seuss did it first.

Friends of the Bride—Florida

2009-02-18T15:41:00.005-06:00

Bram (Cool name, too)
Bram is a friend of the bride. He told me, “My mom and her have been friends forever. Like, for 15 years or something.” Bram’s mom told me that he insisted on going out shopping for his Fedora just for Heather’s wedding. He done good.

Vernell
I sorta took a liking to Vernell. “If I’m going to stand out in a crowd, then I want everyone to really see me,” she told me.
I said, “Well, I think an orange hat will do it every time.”
"That's why my hair is orange, too,” she said. She proudly told me that she’s six-foot-four.

Sunshine
Sunshine was the evening’s entertainer. And a great one he was, too! That man can entertain! He wore more than one hat during the course of the evening. He is also an employee of the bride.

Sunshine rocking the house.

Sunshine dancing.

Sunshine singing a love song.

In the picture below, Vernell really is the tall one; Sunshine was sitting in her lap. They worked the entertainment together.

Tristan—Colorado

2009-01-29T21:19:00.003-06:00

Some photos are timeless. This one of Tristan will bring out the cutest comments from all of us for years and years to come. What a charmer!

And ain’t that the coolest hat? Tristan’s mom took this photo on an unusually warm Thanksgiving day, not long before the turkey was served. Do you suppose that's where Tristan was headed with all that cute determination?

The Lanigans—Chicago (for a wedding)

2009-01-07T20:29:00.004-06:00

Heather is my Great Niece. Her daughter Zoe is my...my...my...well, she’s my other great niece. That tall dude in the back is the great husband/dad, Brian. They were all in Chicago with us recently when my sister got married. When the rehearsal was over, they packed themselves in appropriate winter clothing—including cool hats—before heading for the hotel swimming pool.

Okay. Now can you guess who Zoe looks like? And can you guess who has the coolest hat? Hint: the hat is red. Shall we vote Zoe into the "Junior Red Hat Society?"

Our Conductor--Amtrak from Chicago

2009-01-02T08:06:00.004-06:00

We recently took a delightful train trip to Chicago and back.

What's a train trip without a Conductor? What's a Conductor without a really cool hat? I'd like one of those.

Dorcas--Kansas

2008-12-14T19:35:00.003-06:00

Sometimes as you walk along, certain people just stop you in your tracks. Dorcas stopped me in my tracks today. What a hat! She tried to convince me that she’s shy, but she let me take this photo, anyway.

She was visiting our church today with this cool hat. “Why are you wearing the hat?” I asked.

“Because it goes good with my shirt, my sweater…I like the color gray.”

After I took the picture I thought about opening a blog titled, “People With Fabulous Smiles!”

Horse Ranch--Missouri

2008-12-07T07:34:00.004-06:00

I was on a country road when I saw this mailbox in front of a horse ranch. Well, quick! I found a place to pull over and walked back a quarter of a mile to take this photo. It was worth the walk.

Mike--Missouri

2008-11-18T05:48:00.004-06:00

He's a 14 year old boy. He's an actor. And a good one. He recently played in his high school's production of Les Miserables, a three-hour production. He had a short singing part in the first scene (slaves); and then played different characters in several others scenes.

Here he is as 'Babet,' part of a gang of bad boys. But he was really a good boy that night. And so were all the kids. A night to remember--and the hat helped.

He's our grandson, too!

The Mayor's Granddaughter--Arizona

2008-10-22T10:48:00.007-05:00

While we were in Arizona at my high school reunion, we were introduced to Mayor Gomez, his wife and their granddaughter. This picture is a magazine cover, is it not?

The Mayor’s Granddaughter was not feeling well that day, after some days with the flu, but she managed this delicious smile for us, and now all of us are feeling better. If it wasn't for her hat, this picture may not have been so terrific.

Or maybe it's those eyes. Or that smile. Whatever: she's a glamorous little model!

Hats--All Over

2008-10-02T20:42:00.001-05:00

Wanna buy a hat? Get it here. And tell 'em I sent you.

Blogstock ‘08—Nebraska

2008-08-02T08:35:00.007-05:00

My First Wife and I couldn’t go to Blogstock ’08 like we wanted. So Janell sent Blogstock to us. What a cool gal. She sent photos of the all lucky participants wearing her hat. They are all fellow bloggers.

Ralph and Cliff thunk up the whole thing and pulled it off last 4tha July weekend. You can read comprehensive report after comprehensive report on the lucky participants’ blogs (Check with Cliff). Every report says that a good time was had by all. And everyone, including us, is already looking forward to Blogstock ’09. I want to have my picture taken in Janell's hat.

Scroll South for more excellent hat photos. And thanks for visiting.

Judy (Kenju)—North Carolina

2008-07-16T15:35:00.004-05:00

Judy and I have been reading each other’s blogs for two, three years. Click to enjoy hers. She recently sent me this elegant picture. Talk about class—Judy has class!

This picture was originally published in the Charleston (West Virginia) Daily Mail. Or was it the Gazette? Anyway, Judy was a cute little 20 year old college sophomore at the time. A newspaper lady saw her modeling some department store clothes and not long after, this picture developed.

Judy’s so beautiful you almost don’t see her hat.

Ying—China, England, Missouri

2008-05-11T18:15:00.005-05:00

Many people wear mortar boards at this time of the year. But only one of them is Ying. My First Wife and I love Ying. We’ve known her for four years. Already?! She came to the US for college at the tender age of 17. Alone.

Ying speaks impeccable English—with a British accent. She lived in England for several years where her father was a Chinese government diplomat. While she’s been in the US, she’s made two trips to visit her parents “back home” in Beijing, China. Alone.

This Saturday she graduated—Summa Cum Laude , thank you very much!—from the University of Missouri at Kansas City (UMKC). Next semester, she’ll be at Purdue University to study for a PhD in Pharmacy. Alone.

Ying’s very brave and determined, and quite a lot of fun, too. It’s been our blessing to be a tiny part of this beautiful and special young woman’s career.

And, oh yeah...doesn’t she makes that "hat" look good?

Terrissa—Kansas

2008-05-10T07:13:00.002-05:00

While I was in the park with my granddaughter recently, Terrissa came and sat in the grass for her photographer. They were doing their homework for a photography class: a portrait that captures everything special about the subject (Terrissa). They let me take a couple of photos, too. Nice girls.

Terrissa is wearing that hat because she loves country music. And she wears it often. As we can see, she’s also into laptops, guitars, and K-State Powercats. Most of all, she knows how to put on a real pretty Kansas smile.

Sean and Pop-Pop--New Jersey

2008-01-14T20:30:00.001-06:00

Wanna feel happy? Just enjoy the photos below. Have you ever seen a "Pop-pop" any more happy to be next to his grandson? Have you ever seen a grandson so tickled to show off Pop-Pop's hat? This is the way all granddads should look when their grandsons get to horsin' around. And this is one way young boys can make their granddads glow. Here are two cool dudes having one of their best of times together.

Sean's mom is Jennie. Her blog features one of the finest families in New Jersey. She was behind the camera, but I'm willing to bet she was glowing just as much as her dad and son. God bless 'em all. And God bless that cool hat!

Don—Kansas

2008-04-24T16:02:00.003-05:00

Don’s a new friend. We were busy together recently serving Angel Food groceries to people with low food budgets.

“I like your cool hat, sir,” I told him.

“Well, my son-in-law serves on this ship,” he pointed out. “He sends me all kinds of stuff. I like this hat best.”

I managed to find the time to take his picture.

If you can't make out what the hat says, it's from the USS Ronald Reagan.

LaDawn—England

2008-04-12T16:02:00.003-05:00

LaDawn sent pictures from England. I like her pretty name, LaDawn. It perfectly fits a pretty lady. Anyway, something old; something new.

Her family was out ice skating; the first time for her children (new). And she wore a special hat she bought years ago (old) to commemorate her Grandmother’s visit. (I think everybody should buy a hat in honor of their grandparents.) Her husband took this excellent and delightful picture. Well done.

A couple of days later, she and her kids took a stroll in Queen Elizabeth’s Great Park in Windsor UK. LaDawn took this picture and it looks like her daughter is taking an imaginary picture right back at her. The kids have cool hats.

Kohen--Kansas

2008-03-28T07:40:00.003-05:00

Kohen is just three months old. Isn't he cute? Yes, he is.
I spied him at my niece's wedding a couple of weeks ago and he let me take his picture.
Kohen'll grow up to be a handsome young man cuz both his folks are really good looking--and nice. His mommy cut me a big piece of wedding cake with thick icing slathered all over it.

I want a beret like Kohen's.

Jordan--Kansas

2008-03-17T12:05:00.004-05:00

You don't want to mess with Jordan. He's one big boy and one tough hombre.

Why, he's so fast that he can stand, er...sit in front of a mirror and outdraw hisself.

He's my nephew. This picture was taken last week when he turned 8 months old.

Here's wishing you many happy Hats, Jordan.

"My Unca Paul is right. You don't wanna mess with me, podner."