Trademark Violations

And so we return from Cuba's sun-drenched worker's paradise. . . .

***

The old town welcomed us home with temperatures barely in double digits. Oscar said he would soon require ear flaps for his Panama hat, if this kind of nonsense was going to continue.

Oscar bought the hat upon arrival in Varadero, Cuba. It has remained on his head ever since.

He said he's planning to make the hat his new "trademark." Oscar didn't mention what his old trademark was.

But he was certain that people would soon refer to him as "Oscar and his trademark Panama hat."

***

G.W., Oscar's spouse, said she would put up with the hat for only twenty-four hours once they returned to the old town. Then, she promised everyone, it would never see the light of day again.

I saw Oscar this morning as he returned from the local coffee cathedral. He was still wearing the hat.

By this evening, however, the Panama hat was gone. It was replaced by a red baseball cap. Oscar told me he agreed to remove the hat, as long as he could replace it with something else.

***

Oscar had another very good reason for keeping his head covered for a while. It had nothing to do with trademarks.

Over the last week, Oscar's face has been deeply reddened by the Cuban sun. Unfortunately, the top two inches of his forehead have remained untouched. Apparently, this is where the Panama hat had been sitting.

According to Oscar, the pale white band around the top of his head makes him look like someone who has recently had brain surgery. He says it looks like a surgeon has mistakenly replaced the top of his head with someone else's.

***

Personally, I thought the two-toned face gave Oscar a very unique look. I said it had the potential to be his new trademark look.

Oscar didn't agree.

***

More about Cuba in the days ahead. . . .