When I work outside I always like to wear a hat. My favorite by far is a straw Resistol I picked up at an estate sale at the home of The Texas Kid. It was already stained and raggedy when I got it about ten years ago so you can imagine that it is pretty disreputable-looking by now.

Never heard of The Texas Kid, you say. Well, his real name was Willard Watson and he was what they call a primitive artist who had a few shows in the local art scene. His yard was full of odd sculptures and found pieces and he had a closet full of hand-beaded cowboy shirts. By far his greatest creation was his car. I believe it was a Cadillac, but I am not sure which model. It was covered all over with geegaws and ornaments pasted to it, including the obligatory horns above the radiator. He made an appearance in the film True Stories, which I recommend if you haven’t seen it in a while. It featured songs by the Talking Heads and was filmed hereabouts.

I never actually met Willard Watson. He passed away shortly after I moved to the city. I just followed the signs to the estate sale and that was where I learned everything I know about him. I can’t say for sure if he ever wore this hat himself, but someone sure did and I bet it was him. It doesn’t have fancy beadwork like a lot of his clothes did though, so maybe it was just a work hat that he wore when he wasn’t trying to make an impression.

When I first began to wear it, I had an old beat-up Chevy truck. I really looked like a genuine farm hand when I was in the truck and wearing the hat. Since I got the shiny new truck a few years ago I don’t wear it as much, except when I am working in the garden. I like to think I am channeling The Texas Kid. I always wanted to be an artist. Maybe some of his creativity will rub off on me.