I’ve used this picture of my Grandpa in his stolen pink hat several times on my blog, because it just cracks me up:
I bought this hat in 1996, along with a matching beach bag, and had planned to be totally cool wearing it on the “beach” (aka at the swimming area at El Dorado Lake) that summer. Then Grandma and Grandpa came to visit, and he immediately confiscated it on sight. I found him wearing it one day and just didn’t even know what to say. He told me he was taking it back to Joplin with him because it made a great sun hat.
I was so mad at him, but what are you supposed to say to an elderly mad man that wants to wear your pink hat? I was half amused, half furious because he didn’t even ask if he could have it, but in the end I found it more hilarious than anything. I’m so glad I caught this evidence of his thievery on camera for you guys. LOL!
I never saw this hat again until we visited their place for the funeral in March. As you may have noticed from how he packed Becky with food, he had a hoarding problem, and the house was almost impossible to navigate. The back bedroom was stuffed with boxes of vitamins (Grandpa was a health nut) and my littlest sister, Lacey, went back there with Danielle to go through the boxes and take what she wanted (she’s the only health nut left in the family, and Uncle David had given her permission for this).
See the hat to the right of Lacey and Danielle? It’s hard to tell but that’s actually a stack of several hats, and I noticed some pink in the stack (it was already gone by the time I took this photo). I asked Lacey to see if that was my sun hat and sure enough, we had somehow managed to find it!
Reunited at last!!
I no longer cared about the hat for the sake of wearing it to the beach (I’m way too uncool for that now), but the hat had taken on a sentimental meaning to me, knowing it had been worn and loved by my Grandpa. Not sure if I’d ever have a reason to wear it, I took it back home to Wichita.
Then my Aunt Ruby invited me to her second annual garden party and told me the theme was “hats” and there would be prizes for best, most original, and etc. I knew immediately I had to wear Grandpa’s hat!!
Aunt Ruby (middle) giving a tour of her garden to some of the guests. These two both ended up winning 1st and 2nd place for “most original” hats, and I think they deserved it! :D
With my cousin Racine. I added some flowers to my hat to spiff it up, as did many other guests there! Great minds.
With cousin Michael (he’s so cool, he has dreads down to his butt and often ties them up on top of his head in summer) and Aunt Nadene wearing Grandma Davis’ bonnet–that’s one old bonnet!
I didn’t photograph all the hats, unfortunately, but I think Owen was the only guest who didn’t wear one-so fun!
I ended up winning first place for “most beautiful” hat! I can just imagine Grandpa’s big amused smile seeing me win for the hat we both stole from each other. :)
With my reusable shopping bag and brooch I won for most beautiful hat.
Veronica's Cornucopia 
Since I’m 80 years old myself, I love the idea that Grandpa stole your hat. You have to indulge the senior citizens a little bit. Also love that you were able to retrieve the hat and all its memories.
Lillian
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LOL, yeah I was just too young to really want to indulge him–still too selfish. ;)
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what a funny story! i love your family stories… is that weird? :) i guess i’m just close to my own grandpa (he’ll be 92 in august) so i can relate.
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Yeah for old age! So glad your grandpa is still with you, grandparents are so special. And I’m glad you like my family stories even if it’s weird (which I don’t think it is)!
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I love that you explained the pink hat! I love that you use that picture of your grandpa with the hat – other than the one of him running for the newspaper article, I think its my favorite!
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I love it too. :)
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I love your stories AND the fun adventures you have—you really know how to live it up, V! Also, you are positively BEAMING!!!
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LOL, yeah I’m a wild and crazy girl going to garden parties! ;) Thanks Angie!
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It’s a story you will tell your own child and they will cherish it! Maybe they will even ‘steal’ the hat someday :)
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It will probably be a boy. That would really keep the tradition alive. LOL!
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Grandpa looks awesome in that hat lol no wonder he stole it
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Oh yes, it’s so him! :)
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Glad you cleared why your grandpa was wearing that pink hat. He sounds like such a character (in a good way). Know he would be über thrilled for you now!!!!
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Oh he really was, and he got better with age–he was so crazy fun in his last years. And I so wish he could have lived to see our baby b/c yes, he would be thrilled to have another great-grandchild!!
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that was a great story! thank you for letting us in on this memory!
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The picture of your grandfather in the hat just makes me so happy!
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That hat is fabulous!
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You are so cute Veronica! Love knowing there’s a little one growing inside!
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