A Mountain Man

In school, the fourth grade classes have been studying Utah or western US history.  Brandt has been telling us about Native Americans they have been learning about, as well as several stories about settlers and trappers.  He has been eagerly anticipating a visit from a real true live mountain man, as well as a rendez-vous trading day where the kids were able to exchange "beaver pelts" they have been accumulating for good behavior for other cool stuff.  Yesterday was the rendez-vous and Brandt brought home several juice boxes, some candy, and a couple bags of chips.  Today was the visit from the mountain man. 

In September, Heidi Tanner gave me a really terrific alpaca hat, a tall, warm, very fluffy thing that everyone thought was hilarious but is actually really warm and which I have worn several times.  The first time Blythe saw me in it, she rolled her eyes and told me to take it off, please!  For the past week or so, as anticipation has built over the mountain man visit, Brandt has asked if he could wear my fur hat to school.  I readily agreed, repeatedly, that he could.  Afterall, it isn't everyday a mountain man comes to your school, and it isn't every mom that owns a real fur hat, and it isn't every lad who's confident enough to wear his mom's fur hat to school.

I had to snap a picture of Brandt as he headed off to school, alpaca hat on head.  He is so remarkably self-confident and unaffected by what others might think about him.  He came home with hat on head and reported that the mountain man was so cool he wants to repeat fourth grade next year so he can see him again.  And the mountain man thought his fur hat was cool.  Just like Brandt.