A cowboy hat and boots

We moved to Houston, Texas in 1981 during the height of the Luv Ya Blue era of the Houston Oilers. American Football, as we called it, was new to us, and it was interesting learning about it.

The 1981 Oilers had Bum Phillips, Earl Campbell and a list of other now legends of football. I've worn cowboy boots for as long as I can remember. I wore them when we still lived in France. So, I fit very well in Texas with the boots, but I didn't have a cowboy hat.

Dad went out and spent quite a bit of money on a crushable wool felt Columbia blue cowboy hat. It looked something like this. The color is the same, but my hat had a feather bandana around it. I loved it

I'm not sure what happened to it. I went to college. I think it made it there and back, but I haven't seen it in quite a while. Maybe Mom knows where it is.

Dad always did things grandiose. I guess I've inherited that trait. I like to surprise people with gifts and things, and I like to go all out for them, especially my wife and girls.