Out Our Way: The lesson of the hat

"They'll talk of Cookie's flapjacks that'll wear your teeth down flat, but they ain't made nothing tougher - than a cowboy's hat." - J.R. Williams

Out our way, a cowboy's hat is as personal and unique as his signature.  Indeed it actually is his signature because a store bought hat has to be shaped and twisted and stained by years of sweat, rain, wind and occasionally being stepped on - or worse.

My hat was some 30 years in the making, its peculiar stains and twists, tears and shaping spoke of years of wearing in all kinds of weather and situations.   I took it east with me when I wen...