Good Ol’ Rocky Top
July 2, 2007 by Katherine Coble
My childhood family–parents, sister and brothers–takes a vacation together every other year. Those who are able to make it throw in for a good time in various locations around the country. We’ve done Disney World, Sedona, San Antonio, Branson and Gatlinburg.
This year was the second time we did Gatlinburg. Coincidentally, the last time I was able to make one of these family trips was also to Gatlinburg. And I was TERRIFIED. Not “a little bit scared”. Not “reluctant”. I was cold-sweat nausea vertigo terrified. We had a cabin on a mountain which could only be reached by a drive not unlike the first hill of the Gemini. Rickety and unpaved, that road to the cabin caused me to whimper like a child. I swore I would never again stay in a Gatlinburg-area cabin.
Never say never, of course.
Eight years later I found myself going and I found myself having a pretty good time. Of course, going up and down the mountain still required some dissociation, self-hypnosis and begging my dad not to have discussions about Slippery Falls while we made that last hairpin turn.
Speaking of “rocky top”, this is me in my hat. For reasons I don’t go into on ye old blogge, I am now required to wear a hat in the out-of-doors. I bought this blue one in the first five minutes of my visit to Dollywood, and wore it all around the park. May I just say now that I felt like the biggest tool in the state of Tennessee as I carted around that chapeau? It was sort of like crossing your crazy great-aunt Matilda who cans her own jelly with your sullen poseur cousin Sam who thinks he’s a beat poet and spells his name Sam’l. Since I’m required by modern medicine and the laws of nature to wear a hat at all times I really wish hats would come back in style.
The hat is adorable.
I think you look great in that picture.
I actually like the hat. I know what you mean though. I have a beret that I love, but I rarely wear it because people give strange looks.
Hats aren’t in style? Uh-oh.
I love the hat, and your skin looks beautiful!
1) the hat looks cool, and you look cool in it.
2) you will find that people don’t, in fact, give you funny looks when you wear it. On the contrary, you will be surprised by the number of times people compliment you and even say “I’ve been looking for a hat like that; where did you find it?”
3) you will find that for some strange reason, your skin will remain younger looking that the skin of all your friends; you will start bragging about never going out in the sun as the source of your youthful beauty; you will suddenly realize that you are channelling the most obnoxious Scarlett-O’hara-wannabe ever, and will get all flustered.
Signed,
One Who Knows
I think the hat looks great too, but this might be better for the 11th and the 21st, or maybe just all month long
http://www.mugglenet.com/downloads/colorins/hat.gif
Between you, me, and Bridgett, we’re going to bring them back.
Wear it with pride! Flaunt it! Make ‘em jealous.
J
that’s really a fantastic picture of you–even with that less-than-thrilled expression on your face you look charming!
A lady in a nice hat is always quite fetching.
Maybe you’ll be in the vanguard of bringing them back.
Nice hat! And, like nm said above, you look good in it!
Can we look forward to more pics of your cabin in G’burg?
Can we look forward to more pics of your cabin in G’burg?
If I can figure out how to set up a slideshow on ye olde webbe, sure.
I wear hats too! Wear yours with hattitude!!!
Kat, that is a great pic of you!!!
Kat, as a follow-up to my earlier post I have to tell you that I went to Arby’s to get lunch today. And as I was going in, a guy was going out who said “hey, nice hat” as he breezed out the door. You will get that more than you expect.
I think you look very pretty in that hat! That blue is a great color for you. I, too, should really wear hats when staying out of doors for extended periods of time. My thinning hair means that I’m more susceptible to scalp burns - youch! I always wear a hat to the pool…though I do take it off for about 20 minutes because vanity overrides sensibility…I love how the sun bleaches my hair in the summer!
My problem is finding hats that fit me…I have a rawther large head.
I like the hat bunches! I am with Malia in that I have a hard time finding a hat to fit over the head full of curls.
Welcome back!
Macy’s generally has great hats for not too much money, in a range of sizes. I’ve got a 7 1/2 size head but they always have a bunch of styles that fit me.
I (heart) Macy’s.
Malia is right - that blue is a great color for you!
Nice hat! I wish they would come back into style again, too. Something classy about a girl wearing a hat.
Also, you’re cute! Nice pose.
That is a beautiful picuture of you. Wow. Blue must be your magic color.
I’ve never been to Dollywood, but I have a hard time believing you were the biggest tool there. That’s setting the bar pretty high.
Dear, dear Kat - and good luck, fair-skinned woman, I know why you’re wearing that hat! If we pale porcelain people wear hats as we ought, our health will be better and we won’t feel quite so foolish in the hats.
If it makes you feel better, I see more and more hats around me every year. I even see folks carrying open umbrellas against the sun! In Philadelphia! And if it’s any help, know that I, personally, am giving Bartholemew Cubbins a run for his money. I have approximately 300 hats at this point, and I wear them. I don’t go out of the house without one - no, not even to the vet’s, or the laundromat, or the mini-mart across the street.
Plus, you look stylin’ in that hat. It’s a lovely colour for you, and the indignation and embarrassment combine to give you that “supermodel glare.”
And when you are more comfortable in your hat you can play with it - tucking flowers into the band, or tying a scarf in a different colour around the crown. Hats are fun!
I love that pic of you. It’s so scary how much we do look alike. Now I know I could pull off that shade of blue!