It’s raining in Wisconsin tonight. And it’s windy. Umbrellas are great for rain but are, as a rule, not all that good in wind.

Tonight my own umbrella, which has been with me for a good many years, a gentleman’s basic black umbrella and not of the cheap variety, fell victim to the wind. My poor, faithful umbrella was truly and completely molested by the vile wind and was rendered useless as I walked between Applebee’s and my hotel thus rendering my good hat and wool dress coat totally drenched.

I had paid good money for this umbrella as it was marketed in my tailor’s shop as a wind proof umbrella. This seems to be a case of false marketing as the wind surely destroyed my trusty umbrella.

I know a lot of men, especially in the U.S., refuse to carry an umbrella even in a downpour. Frankly, I think they are idiots. Getting rained on doesn’t make one look more manly it just makes you look wet.

I’ll have to try and find a new umbrella now. I’ll miss the old one as it was a very nice one. I doubt I’ll find another as nice any time soon. I doubt I can afford one as nice any time soon. But I’ll locate something suitable in the near future as a gentleman shouldn’t be without an umbrella IMHO.

Besides, even a very good umbrella is cheaper than a moderately decent hat.