Joe's curling pin hat

He was brought up in a time where men wore hats, even to work, even in less respected occupations. Why, me old curling hat is a Dickees hat I bought only because it reminded me of me Grandpa Joe's older style of work hat. It's the hat I wear adorned with curling pins, the hat I bought at Pickford Dry Goods in Pickford, Michigan. 

Of course, his last work hat was different. It was an abomination of pressed, woven and flattened plastic, weaved to look impressive. It was what I chose to keep, along with his Rosary, when me Aunt, lookin' over his property, allowed us grandchildren a choice over. She let me keep them both. 

To my shame, I cannot find his Rosary, the one adorned with his name from the Rosary Shrine of St. Jude here in Detroit, Michigan. But I have his hat. I wear it just now. 

It is dirty, oily, and fits a little tight. And I wear it because, well, I wear it. I think maybe I'll ask to be buried with it. You know, so I can offer it back to Joe when the time comes.