Hat(s)

My Grandfather's hat.

(Following is little bio- don't have to read if tired or busy, etc. - [it's the old- have guests over the house and bore them to death with a family slideshow]).

January 2003, me and my father went and cleared out his father's/my grandfather's apartment a few days before the funeral. I kept four mementos: a print by some Russian artist, a shirt, a page from his memo pad, and his hat.

The print: Its first owners were actually my newlywed parents. They bought the print in decorating their first apartment- but soon got rid of it as they found it too kitschy or Elvis-on-velvety? (in academia- they liked it till their education progressed(?), and/or until maybe friends commented/snickered- but they aren't snobs). However, my grandparents, in and from a different world(?), apparently liked it- as they gladly inherited and hung it above their couch where it stay till they were both gone. From toddler to adult, every visit I'd go to their living-room and stare awhile at the beautiful woman it depicted - I had(have) a crush on her as well as the painting itself- or maybe more just the associated memories. Wow- here's an interesting bio- just looked artist up- all these years never knew the story: Tretchikoff

















The shirt: I had bought Grandpa shortly before he started to really decline in health (he loved the beach and ocean- he dressed like a surfer dude most of the time). Can't find the shirt just now.

The page from his notepad: I found tucked away in the lamp table drawer by his favorite easy-chair. Written 5 or 6 years before he passed at age 97- it reads,
"It's depressing to realize what age we are, until we remember what age we will be in later years- If we look, take a look, life always offers a reassuring parallel for all-" Nothing fancy, simply said.
Surprised to find note, he never seemed philosophical or whatever the word is, he was, for the most part, a quiet man with a love for family and the simple things in life, he was present & "lived in the now". Towards the end, he said, "I have no regrets, if I had it to do over- I wouldn't change a thing"- blessed. I knew him well, but never fully all what went on inside. I guess we don't realize a lot of what goes on inside anyone- including ourselves. Anyway, maybe take a look- or maybe not hahaha.