LOOK AT THAT HAT

Whoever Julie Benz is, she looks great in that Derby hat. The bow tied guy next to her doesn't.

One of the first times I was in Kentucky as an adult, I was astonished at the beautiful women I encountered at a mall. I seriously wondered if there was a beauty contest that weekend. That's how good they looked.

But old time Derby goers who attend the Kentucky social event of the year must marvel at the ladies' hats. Along with the beautiful horses and atmosphere.

What I've found about womens' and mens' hats for that matter is that if a gal or guy looks good in a hat, then they also look good hatless. Some of the stupid looking hats draw attention like the stupid looking sports coats that one college basketball announcer wears. Maybe that was their purpose all along.

When I was a wee one, my favorite hat was a Davey Crockett coonskin hat complete with tail. On a trip to Florida when our son was about 4, I continued the tradition by purchasing him one at a gas station. He, too, was somewhat enamored with it, wearing it on two Halloweens in a row--one as Crockett: one as Daniel Boone.

While we both looked pretty dashing in our hats, we couldn't compare to some of the beauties spotted at the Kentucky Derby. To this day, I know neither of us has tried a mint julep either. After a few of those, maybe none of the hats there look stupid.