The Man in the Bowler Hat

I have always loved Rene Magritte's painting, The Son of Man. Initially, your eyes see the unexpected, the bright green apple hovering in front of the man's face. Once you get past the apple, you see other things, such as the setting (he appears to be at a wall overlooking the sea) or the fact that his elbow seems to face forward. Inevitably, though, I am drawn to that bowler hat and the character of the man's peeking eyes. (This bowler hat image and the accompanying mysteriousness are fantastically played upon in the film, Thomas Crown Affair.)

 

I suppose I am intrigued by a man wearing a hat. For as far back as I can remember, Bryan has worn one, usually a ball cap facing backward. Sometimes he will show off something different, such as an ivy cap while playing golf or a fedora when hanging out with friends. I can't imagine Bryan any other way; I adore him for his hat wearing.

Bryan has been known to influence others to accessorize with a hat: I'll never forget a very young Alex mimicking his Uncle Bryan with a rearfacing lid. And, of course, our own little one has a fascination with hats (and other accessories, such as sunglasses) as well. Ayden has been known to sport some pretty fantastic hats, even while living in the hospital, and, naturally, he receives an abundance of attention for his extra cuteness while adorned. Many marvel at how well he wears accessories, how willing he is to keep them on for an extended period of time. He enjoys putting them on, adjusting them, trying on new items, etc. Below are some January photos of Ayden in some of his new favorite hats.