As many of you were aware, it was QUITE windy the morning of Saturday 10/12/2024, the first official day of the Work Weekend.
I was fortunate enough to have arrived at SS with ample time to amble about the campus before catching the second train up the line to deliver stone to the worksite. Several times I found myself with my hand clamped firmly atopt my noggin literally holding onto my hat, lest Mother Nature have her way with my long(ish) but relatively tame hair. Nonetheless, I boarded the 9 am departure without much incident, but increasingly aware of the ever stiffening wind. Somewhere ahead of the back of my mind was the thought of the wind taking my hat on an excursion.
WELL! Sure enough, as we barely left SS and headed into the first curve North of the tank- WOOSH!!
I SWEAR I only took my hand off the top of my head for a SECOND- but that was plenty enough for the Gusty Lady of the Wood, and away went my signature head covering! Fortunately, the combined din of the train and thew wind kept my lone companion, the Conductor, from hearing what must have been some choice Official Naval Communication.
Fortunately, the Conductor saw what was happening and marked the location of my now errant cover as it soared off into the wild and came to rest in the ditch on the West side of the train-
UNfortunately, the Engineer was diligently watching the track ahead so he was blissfully unaware of the situation with my fedora AND the Conductor's attempt to signal him to stop, so we continued on to AC.
Thankfully Mr Fox and friends were already at AC, so we relayed the hat situation to them and they eventually got word back to SS to send a search party.
At this point, I wish to express my regret to anyone who may have had an early Halloween experience due to my ever-wilding appearance during the work session.
I assure you, werewolves are NOT real, and that was not the Boogeyman working diligently beside y'all.
So, despite having to adjust my mane every couple minutes, I actually managed to contribute to the jacking, tamping, and lining efforts, after which we all returned to SS for a home-cooked "dinner that couldn't be beat!" And wouldn't you know it, I was reunited with my fecklessly wandering chapeau in good order and none the worse for wear!
Special thanks to all those who helped return my hat to me. I've had many hats over the years, but this one is quite special and now has yet another story of adventure attached to it's history.
I'm very happy to have it returned to the peak of Cosmo's Rock.
Thanks guys, and remember: Hold on to your HAT!