If you’re in the USA you’ve probably seen the Progressive Insurance commercials depicting Dr Rick, a man on a mission to help 30- and 40-somethings un-become their parents. I think they’re hilarious, but I’ve noticed that some people take them personally.

Despite all that, it semms inevitable that we all are doomed to channel at least some of our parents’ behaviors as we get older.

To my perennial horror, I frequently notice myself using gestures are turns of phrase that I absorbed from my father.

But this week I had a particularly startling revelation, and it didn’t arrive until long after the fact.

Let me back up and give you some background, in succinct bullet list form:

• I like to hike while I’m here in Tucson.
• I wear a straw panama hat that I bought in Mexico.
• The hat does not have a chin strap.
• I like my hat and don’t want to lose it.

A week or so ago, I was getting ready to leave with a group on one of our weekly hikes. At the last minute, I realized that my hat might be in danger so I rummaged around the shed to see if I had something to fashion a makeshift chin strap.

I didn’t find any old shoe laces or leather cord. Nor could I find any beads.

🚩 This right here, this should have been my warning sign to stop and go do something else.

But I persisted.

To my delight, I found some string and a hex nut.

You read that right: A HEX NUT.

This will work! I thought as I hastily accessorized my headwear. Success! The wind would not beat me on this day.

As an impromptu response to an urgent situation, this probably was okay. But it’s been two weeks now and the string and nut apparatus is still attached to my hat.

This is totally something an old man would do. This is not what cool dads do. I’ve wandered into “Okay, Boomer” territory.

I’m beside myself with a strange mix of pride (for my resourcefulness) and shame (for, well, you know).

I need Dr Rick.