Getting My Stolen Hat Back

 

Lately we've experienced a bit more wind in Newport - at least more than we're used to at this time of year.  It's nothing we can't handle,

but it does make our job more challenging and there are always surprises.

 

Tonight, much to my surprise, as if it were going out of it's way to mess with me, the wind managed to whip around a corner and steal my hat.

 

Not just any hat, of course - this is one of my prized gondolier hats from Giuliana Longo.

I like my hats so much that on each of them I have a cord-like chin strap which is similar to the ones found on lifeguard hats.

Even when worn loosely, the strap works almost without fail.

 

Not tonight. 

 

As I was navigating a difficult turn, that sneaky wind took us both by surprise (me and my hat), whooshing around a corner, blowing my hat forward,

then back behind me, and depositing the hat in the water.

All this happened before I'd even left the lagoon.

 

Enter Simon - young energetic gondolier who happened to be on the dock about to depart on a cruise of his own.

 

I shouted out to him, asking if he could fetch my capello.

He did so, and then came rowing out to catch me and my passengers.

Enter Simon again...this time with my hat.

Simon is a clever guy - he has learned to watch others and adjust his course accordingly.  In this case, Simon realized that he'd better take of his hat too
(ok, sure, insert your favorite "Men Without Hats" joke here if you must).

We brought our gondolas right alongside each other, and while Simon was handing me my precious hat, the passengers in our boats exchanged greetings and compared birthdates:
"Oh, it's your birthday? Happy birthday! It's my wife's birthday too!"
"Well happy birthday back atcha' then!"

Everyone was happily toasting everyone else, and I was happy to get the sun off my forehead.

 Boat-to-boat greeting.

Next, another gondola, from our friends at Gondola Company of Newport cruised by, and all four of our passengers waved and toasted the folks on the other boat.

 Everyone practices their very best "buona sera".

Later on, after my passengers finished their dinner, a mysterious message-in-a-bottle somehow appeared in the water and my passengers enjoyed fishing it out and reading it.

California sunset, photographed using all-natural, full-size "tree filter"
(no treese were harmed in the taking of this photograph)

 

Lastly, at the end of a relaxing cruise, we all took in the changing colors

that can be seen at the end of a coastal sunset.

Life is good on the water, really good.