The other day I was standing in my office and looked at the window. There is quaint sandwich shop next door called "Nana's". There was a large group of women standing outside and more pulling up in cars all wearing purple dresses and red hats. Two of them had feather boa's and my curiosity just could not be suppressed. So, I went over to see what it was all about. They told me it was the "Red Hat Society" and told me about a poem that started it all. I asked if I could join ans was immediately told "no". I thought..how rude. Then they told me I had to be over fifty. I looked up this society on the internet and found a lot of interesting stuff about it...Here is the poem that started it all:
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 peoples' 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 to dinner and read the papers.
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.
I decided then to start my own society called the "Red HOT Society" wanta join??
