While in Bend, Oregon on T-giving night, the little Yosef and I went to the lobby of our hotel to get a bite and a beer (for me). As usual, I'm wearing a block A somewhere, this time on my hat. We enter the food area and there is only one other group, a family playing board games, having beer and from the looks of it, an all-around good time spent with family.

Almost immediately, the patriarch approaches me and asks if that's an Appalachian hat. Well of course it is! It turns out he was a fellow App alum from the class of 1984. While that's a little before my time at App, the immediate respect that we had for one another was genuine. We chatted for a few minutes and then he went back to his game.

This is why I wear my App gear. This is why you should wear your App gear.

It was very nice to meet you Mark. Thank you for saying hello and I hope that you had a safe trip back to Blowing Rock.

Brian
Portland, OR

Thanks for sharing. I wear my gear all the time and have had similar experiences that have turned into great friendships over time. Nothing like the APP STATE family!!