April's Musings

Monday, June 20, 2005
"Hats in the Caymans"

Sitting on a Cayman beach with three women in straw hats.

One is in a plastic chair, feet in the warm sea, lime green hat tilted forward, reading. Sophisticated, absorbed, mysterious, elegant—the pose is perfect—the poise of the hat!

Another sits on the porch, rounded Renoir braided hat covering her artistic head. Head bent—up, down—looking at the watercolor in her hand. Up, down—painting the palm. The pink Cayman bench stoutly supporting the pretty scene.

Third is in a sombrero, black cord loose at neck, dipping salt and pepper curls escaping in Katherine Hepburn elegance, pink sarong, head thrown back on floral printed canvas chair, book and eyes both closing softly.
 

Moist heat, warm sun, elegant gesturing hands, binoculars, orange and mango and fuchsia and green wooden chairs support the scene of artful living. Sun bleached conch shells piled on the sand, conversation, women at play. Hats upon chair backs mark the place of missing friends. Reading inside in cool darkness, stretched on couches and lounged on chairs. The unique holiday gift of books, and sun and friendship and time and artistic hats!

Northside, Grand Cayman