HATS OFF
©2016, Wanda L. Harrell
As a child and young girl, I recall watching TV shows and movies where the gentlemen wore top hats. That's when my fascination with those tall towers of masculinity began, but I just couldn't figure out how they managed traveling on stagecoaches and ships of old without damaging their costly stove pipe headgear In other words, what did they do when they took their hats off?
Some twenty-five or so years ago, I found the answer to my inquisitive mind on a table in a Jacksonville antique shop. When I opened the odd looking leather case, imagine my delight when my eyes fell upon the Brooks Brothers top hat of beaver skin with a silk lining that was safely contained within. That hat and case are two of my most favored antiques.
Then, in 2001, I discovered a beloved friend had played the character of Daggoo in the 1998 Moby Dick remake starring Patrick Stewart, Henry Thomas and Ted Levine. As I sat comfortably watching the miniseries on DVD, another character, Queeqeg, entered the storyline. Much to my amazement, Queeqeg removed his hat to place it in a case just like the one in my living room.
Of course, in addition to the scenes with my friend, Daggoo, I replayed the one of Queeqeg, his hat and the case.
To this day, I wonder about the original proud owner, his age, height, job, family and location. I wish he knew just how proud I am to be the caretaker of his hat and its case.
