I want to begin by saying that I AM NOT a member of the Red Hat Society. They're everywhere, those 50-somethings, most noticeably (one cannot HELP but notice them!) in restaurants and at quilt shows.They appear to be a large, happy, social group. I am not opposed to happiness, or social groups for that matter; in fact, quite the opposite is true! From the outside looking in I have always just thought that the organization was a bit too flamboyant, that and the fact that I abhor the idea of sporting a red hat in public, or a feather boa or a hat-head! I wasn't aware until today that it all came about as a result of this poem, "WARNING", by Jenny Joseph: "When I am an old woman I shall wear purple With a red hat which doesn't go and doesn't suit me. And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves And satin sandals, and say we've no money for butter. I shall sit down on the pavement when I'm tired And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells And run my stick along the public railings And make up for the sobriety of my youth. I shall go out in my slippers in the rain And pick the flowers in other people's gardens . . .
this is an adaptation, the poem concludes:
But maybe I ought to practice a little now? So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised When suddenly I am old, and start to wear purple."
This places the Red Hatters in a different light as far as I am concerned, I think the poem is delightful. I still won't be joining, I don't think that 50 is old to begin with. But, when my dear daughter-in-law sent me this photo of a Fisher-Price "Little
Life is Good!
