Red Hat Society - this is the neatest!!

**homesteadmamma** · 12-26-2002, 08:32 PM

This is so neat I plan on finding a group near me. I watched this on the late night news last night and it just touched me in profound ways.

As woman over 50 - who are we, where do we want to go, what do we want to do with our lives.

With a red hat and a purple dress, we can change the world and how we feel about growing old.

http://www.redhatsociety.com/

What do you all think???

**mrscornbread** · 12-26-2002, 09:41 PM

CJ!!!! Do you know the Poem "When I am an old woman I shall wear Purple" That is how I want to be. Later on I will post the poem for the others. I am not 50 yet, but boy when I am look out world!!!!!!!!!!!

**homesteadmamma** · 12-26-2002, 09:48 PM

Actually that is how this Red Hat Society started with that poem. I loved it when I heard it last night.

If you can, it would be so neat to share it here.

**TheCottageRose** · 12-26-2002, 11:08 PM

I fell in love with that poem a few years ago. My mom was always so proper and I thought of her when I read this lovely poem.

Then Romantic Homes ran a large layout on them a couple years ago and told about the Red Hat Society. The underage ladies (under 50) wear lavender rather than purple.

Isn't that just the coolest thing?

**mrscornbread** · 12-27-2002, 12:26 AM

Warning
By Jenny Joseph

When I am an old woman I shall wear purple
With a red hat which dosen't go, and dosen'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
And learn to spit.

You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat
And eat three pounds of sausages at a go
Or only bread and pickle for a week
And hoard pens and pencils and beermats and things in boxes.

But now we must have clothes that keep us dry
And pay our rent and not swear in the street
And set a good example for the children.
We must have friends and read the papers.

But maybe I ought to practise a little now?
So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised
When suddenly I am old, and start to wear purple.

**mrscornbread** · 12-27-2002, 12:29 AM

That poem has been like a theme song for me. I love everything about it and can't wait to be an old woman so I can wear purple. Wish we had a redhat club here for those of us who aren't 50 yet!!

**Kindred-Spirit** · 12-27-2002, 12:31 AM

Do you get Oprah in Canada? She had them on there a few years ago then I saw the group on something else. THey look like they are having so much fun........kinda makes you look forward to getting older, if you can join that kind of group.

**homesteadmamma** · 12-27-2002, 12:48 AM

Well I'd love to join a group of them and in fact I'm going to see if there is a group in the nearest city to me.

In the group in Winnipeg, they were aged from 43 to over 70. If I can grow old and have the fun these ladies are having, heh, can't beat that.

The news report last night said there is now over 100,000 and one of the fastest growing organizations around. Now that speaks volumes!!!

**Darlene** · 12-27-2002, 03:29 PM

What fun! Live it up I say!

**learning** · 12-27-2002, 09:06 PM

I knew exactly what the subject was from your post title... our older professor had us do an assignment with this poem... This poem always reminds me of a special lady I once knew.

**KathiS** · 01-03-2003, 05:27 AM

I have a copy of that poem framed in my hallway. It has always been one of my favorites. I would love to join one of those Red Hat groups!

**KathiS** · 01-04-2003, 04:50 AM

I went online and looked up the Red Hat groups in my area. There are far more than I imagined! Some of the groups are listed as " not accepting new members" but, some had openings. Has anyone called and talked to any of the members yet? Most sites have phone numbers and/or email addies listed. I have found, since I retired, that it is harder to make new friends. This might just be a fun group to get invloved with.