Growing a beard, wearing hats and more

        I’ve never been a fan of shaving and for the last year or two had been lazily letting my whiskers go a week or so between shaves. That was until earlier this year when I decided to grow a beard.
           I started growing my beard three days before my colon cancer surgery on March 21.
           It had been more than 20 years since I last had a beard.
         I had grown a beard two or three times prior to meeting Debbie in August 2003, only to shave it off a few months later.
           I had a mustache when we got married and cut it off shortly after our wedding in September 2004.
          Initially, when I decided to grow a beard, I figured I would cut it off after traveling to Tulsa for my cousin reunion in early June.
           Summer went on and so did my beard.
           I figured the heat would get to me, but it didn’t, so I let it grow.
          Maybe I spent more time in the air conditioning than outside.
           I think Debbie can attest to that statement.
           I can say with confidence that I now have more hair on my face than I do on my head.
           It’s getting quit thin on top.
           And my eyebrows are thicker than a slab of cement and my nose hair, oh my goodness. I put nose hair in the same category as weeds.
           Since growing a beard, I have had it trimmed at a local barbershop several times.
​         I would rather pay to have my beard trimmed instead of spending money on a beard trimmer only to have it sit in a bathroom drawer.
           Like my dad, I rarely go anywhere without a hat on my head.
         I think it gives me a better chance at keeping a few hairs on my head a bit longer. I’ve worn a hat for many years and have amassed quite a collection of hats.
         I still have my 1985 OU Sooners Football National Championship hat. I also have a number of OU Softball National Championship hats.
           Debbie has bought me one every year they win it all, which is a bunch of times.
          And I have quite a collection of Iowa State Fair hats. Some are more well-worn than others. The butter cow version of an ISF hat is one of my favorites.
           A hat I have on my birthday and Christmas list is a “Tulsa” hat. It is made by Okie Brand company based in Tulsa. The company makes all types of hats and other apparel with an Oklahoma theme. They also make a “Tulsa” sticker like the patch on the hat that I hope to purchase down the road.
         I also have a collection of hat and work shirt patches and some agriculture hat patches. Among my small collection are a couple patches from my dad’s work, Gaso Pump, in Tulsa.
          The company built huge pumps that moved crude oil through pipelines.
         I also have some advertisements from his company along with the ring he received at his retirement in March 1993. And some years ago, I found on eBay, a small compass with Gaso printed on it. It was probably given away at oil expos and expositions such as the International Petroleum Exposition (IPE) held in Tulsa from 1923 – 1979.
         The IPE event showcased the latest oil industry technology, sold equipment and services and educated the public and industry workers about oil production.
         Changes in the oil industry and oil production moving offshore in the 1970s led to the IPE show closing down. It also brought many other changes to Tulsa, which at one time was known as the “Oil Capitol of the World.”
        One such company that had a home base in Tulsa was Skelly Oil founded in 1919 by William Grove Skelly, along with two other men.
        My mom worked for Skelly Oil in the late 50s and early 60s after I was born. She had an office job. I’m not sure what she did at Skelly Oil. Seems like she wrote checks and paid bills.
       Outside of oil, Tulsa has a significant collection of Art Deco architecture and its historic presence on Route 66.
       My high school, Will Rogers, is one of the finest examples of Art Deco buildings in Tulsa. The school opened to students in 1939 with the first graduating class being 1940. If you are ever in Tulsa, check out my high school near Tulsa University and the many other Art Deco buildings in the downtown area and across the city.
           Have a great week and always remember that “Good Things are Happening,” every day.