Four Hats

It’s odd how different hats produce different effects. My brother gave me a roll-up Panama hat he brought back from Central America, good for hot weather. Of course, I might be taken for a dastardly plantation owner—that happened to me once when I was wearing a $5 straw bracero hat. 

I have an SF Giants baseball cap that makes me more likable on sight, especially in grocery stores. Clerks smile when they see me.  I also own a luminescent orange cap that I wear when walking along and crossing streets. It’s hugely visible, but people have mistaken me for a hunter. And I have an army fatigue cap that gets me an occasional free soda (from vendors who like soldiers) and a bit of respect from veterans. If I could wear all four hats at once, I'd run for office.