My late mother always insisted that I was a hat rack when I was a little boy. I had cowboy hats, Indian headdresses, baseball caps, and multiple raccoon-tail hats which she said were my favorites. There are photos. No I'm not going to share one.

When I became an adult, I lost interest in hats. Perhaps, like J.F.K., I thought I didn't look right in them. I wear a gimme cap occasionally and feel comfortable doing so. But I'm not a cowboy and I've always felt a little like a poseur when I think about wearing a "cowboy hat". To use a good Texas insult, I feared I'd be described as "all hat, no cattle".

But several summers in San Antonio have persuaded me, while I don't need any cattle, I do need a better hat. The sun here is brutal. And a gimme cap doesn't do the trick.

So yesterday, when we were at the pool and a gentleman walked in wearing what I thought was a rather nice straw hat, I told him I liked it and asked where he got it. He said he'd gone to Herb's Hats on Rigsby in southeast San Antonio. So today, Joan and I went with our grandson Wee James. And I got what I think is a really nice hat.

I plan to start wearing it regularly. Wee James caught the bug too and Joan decided he deserved a hat. He looks like a natural!

The ladies at Herb's Hats were very knowledgeable and helpful. I can definitely recommend them!

William Porter ☆ San Antonio, Texas