It was a warm summer morning at the Chelsea flea market back in 2003. By the time this story begins, I had already purchased an armful of fantastic antique picture frames that were soon to be sold to the top galleries along Madison Avenue. But let me tell you instead about this hat.

I had been regaling my friends and colleagues at the flea market with stories of the previous night’s antics at the club where I worked. Tales of drunk girls puking on their friends were always a big hit. Me with my coffee and Robert with his tall boy had broken away from the group and were strolling among the tables in the pay lot laughing and giggling and calling each other ‘girlfriend’.



Before I knew it, Robert had grabbed this hat off one of the tables and was drawing his famous Brute right on it. His Sharpie was always in the back pocket of his jeans - ready. After a quick signature and date, he plunked the hat down on my head and said, ‘Gimme 20 bucks girlfriend’. Obviously I obliged and began to walk away. You see, Robert had already made a bee line for another table and was purchasing what I can only assume was an incredible score with that twenty dollar bill.



To say that Robert had a great eye, would be a massive understatement. He was a wealth of knowledge and a true ‘picker extraordinaire’. My happiness at having had this moment with someone who I truly admired was broken when the dealer who had the hat for sale yelled after me, ‘Hey, GIRLFRIEND, you can give me twenty bucks too’.



Again I obliged and took great pleasure in my new found work of art. It was the best forty dollars I spent that morning. The frames I had purchased were all sold and forgotten within a matter of days. But not this hat.



Fifteen years later I still have it. And it still brings a smile to my face to remember that morning. I hope it brings a smile to your face as well, now that you know the story. ;-) hkv