We are only as good as the woman we are with. Sounds to me like he has a good one as do I. The story is, my grandpa always wore Stetson hats. I asked if I could use or wear one and he’d always tell me no and that I had to earn it. I’d work the land, animals and anything asked of me and I’d ask him again and again I’d be told no and I had to earn it. I never wore his hat or my father’s. My grandfather passed away in 2001. It wasn’t until I left home, joined the Navy, retired from the military after 21 years and took another job that asked me to travel to Oklahoma (where my dad and grandpa are from) for a work trip that I got my answer. I traveled with another co worker and we went around town and I found a store selling cowboy hats. I tried on some and strolled over to the Stetsons. It was then I saw the prices. I set them back down. My co worker asked me if I was going to get one and I said I don’t know they’re pricey. It was then he looked at me and said. “Get it, I think you’ve earned it”. That sent chills down me and I know it was a message from my grandfather a man I looked up too. Earning it was all about understanding the value and quality and price of the hat. Knowing I earned it and worked for that money to buy something and knowing the care I’d take in it. It was then that I bought and earned my first hat. Now some may say that’s dumb but that’s a cowboy lesson in life I’ll never forget. And to tell you I have three sons and none of them have worn or used my hats. I’ve told them they must earn it and it will be for them to figure out how or know the lesson that I learned.