The Era of The Hat

About three years ago I sat worrying over the few gray hairs I had sprouting from the top of my head. I asked Graham, "Do you think I need to dye my hair?" Without hesitation he said, "Soon." To which I calmly responded by nearly shouting: "You're GOING BALD!"

I know, when I asked the question "Do you think I need to dye my hair?" I was really asking FOR IT. Also, it should be said that I had spent many moments just like that, assuring my love that I didn't notice his thinning hairline and even if he were going bald, it wouldn't matter to me. The latter part is 100% true, but the former was me being a VERY SUPPORTIVE girlfriend.

Well, now the baldness and the grayness is just like the cereal--it's a 100% Natural in our home. It's an accepted fact. I have got more gray hairs since this conversation, but like so much else, I haven't done DIDDLY about it, but dream of exciting colors to dye my hair like red and blond streaks or maybe even DARK DARK brown.

Graham, for his part, just shaves his head and grew sideburns and that was that--until we went to Montauk and his poor scalp got sunburned. It was time, people. Time for a hat.

Graham is not a hat person. I have a polaroid of him trying on hats at the San Gregorio store some years ago, where he looks like he just came from a Village People concert. So there was much discussion of what kind of hat he might go for and even look good in. We planned. We stopped by hat kiosks. For awhile he thought he might get a sort of Mr. Miami Beach straw hat, but once he tried it on he felt like a tourist in his own life. So we went further down the road of golfing hats--little sharp, straw caps, but then they didn't work either. Finally, he tried on one of those cotton caps that snaps at the bill--a sort of caddy number and it REALLY LOOKED GOOD.

What's cuter than you husband trying on hats and asking "What do you think?" I'll tell you, it's your husband standing on a subway platform wearing his cap WITH PRIDE. He loves it and it just about KILLS ME to see him happy with his LOOK. It's a new era for Graham. The era of the hat.

Now what am I supposed to do about my GRAY HAIRS? Maybe I'll buy a hat too.