The Red Hatted, Purple Dressed, “Georgia Girls”

The Red Hatted, Purple Dressed, “Georgia Girls”

Our Response to Jenny Joseph’s 1961 Poem:

“Warning, When I am an Old Woman, I Shall Wear Purple.”

Ms. Joseph is from Minchinhampton, England.

Response Written by Gloria Carter,

Queen Mother, “Georgia Girls Red Hatters”

July 19, 2011

We’re “Cool Cats” with red hats and purple dresses on.

Our husbands think we’ve lost our minds—that our mental health is gone!

But we are The “Georgia Girls,” a step above the rest.

“We do our things” without regret ‘cause we know we’re The Best!

The Only Rule that we must keep:  “We have no rules at all!”

We live our lives the way we choose, without coercion’s call.

We dress up funny; gaudy’s good, in ostrich feathers bright.

With purple gloves, red sequined bags, we go out “styled” at night!

Home folks glare at our attire, wondering where we buy our clothes.

But, when we smile and wave at them, they laugh from head to toes!

We know they cannot help but wish they had the courage, too,

To make their own decisions to do only what they choose!

We don’t do crimes; engage in sin; we’re careful in our plight.

We love our “Sisters” fearlessly, and seldom ever fight!

The Georgia Girls now know that life is “centered just on us.”

We’ve trained our husbands, reared our kids, and conquered all our lusts.

We’re over fifty, gray, and fat; there’s no young chicks around

To challenge us with jealousy when our husbands come to town.

Our spouses do not meet with us, so they won’t run us down,

Intimidate, or impress us with their wisdom, wealth, or frowns.

Our kids are grown, so they “KNOW ALL,” and seldom need car keys.

No more discipline; no more lectures; and no more college fees!

We like folks who laugh and share, and love to stop and eat.

We like traveling here and there, and shopping down the streets.

We love music:  Elvis’ Song, “I Did it My Way”; see?

So, the Red Hat “Georgia Girls” is the place for us to be!

We love wearing purple clothes with red hats, though unmatched.

We like spending pensions on pouring brandy “down the hatch”!

We like sitting down at Sam’s and resting on their floors

And gobbling up their samples when we’re hungry, or just bored.

We like pressing fire alarms when we’re just “in the mood”!

We like running walking canes down Food Courts’ walls of food.

We like walking barefoot in the rain or down the street.

We like picking daffodils by a neighbor’s garden seat.

We have learned to spit and burp; and in boxes hoard.

‘Cause little kids we now don’t have to be examples for.

We don’t have to read the news, or watch “the football game”;

And we won’t have to clean and cook, or invite cohorts so vane.

And if anyone complains at all, we’ll turn off our hearing aids.

We’ll stare at them with faces frowned, stick out our tongues, and gape.

Because we’re older now and wise, we’ll do the things we choose.

We’re tranquillized by doctors; so, we’ve finally got the proof

That we’re certified as “Nuts,” you see; “We’re Crazy” by “Their Rules.”

Of course, that’s not a crime or sin; they’ve been licensed by Med Schools!

So, if you see some Purple Gals wearing feathered hats of red,

Remember, we’re just loving life; and there’s no way we’re dead!

In fact, we’re full of so much life; that we may NEVER DIE …

Though we may choose to win you, too, to the “Wilder Side of Life”!

How It Started

Oh, Yes!  We are “Cool Cats,” or so we think!

“The Georgia Girls Red Hatters”  was first organized as “The Mad Hatters” as a chapter of the National Red Hat Society. We are located in the Pembroke-Ellabell areas of Georgia; and we are open to new members. Ladies of all ages are welcome.  Those who are 50 years of age or older wear red hats and purple attire; and ladies under 50 wear pink and lavender.  The only Rules of the Red Hatters are:  “There are no Rules!”  Red Hatters are ladies who have learned to handle aging with grace and anticipation of fun and excitement rather than to avoid it.  Therefore, we all dress up in our red hats and purple outfits and GO FOR THE FUN !!

How It All Started

The Red Hat Society began as a result of a few women deciding to greet middle age with vivacity, humor, and impetuous ardor.  We believe silliness is the comedy relief of life; and since we are all in it together, we might as well join red-gloved hands and go for the gusto together. Underneath the frivolity, we share a bond of affection, forged by common life experiences, and a genuine enthusiasm for wherever life takes us next.

A Red Hatters chapter is often referred to fondly as a "dis-organization," though we have been forced to impart a degree of order to our operations.

Our group was begun on April 14, 2005, by Marsha Clark and Sue Cliett in Bryan County, Georgia, when they met at the Pembroke Library with eight friends and took inspiration from a popular poem entitled "Warning" by Jenny Joseph, which begins "When I am an old woman...."   Since the poem mentions wearing a red hat and purple attire, they and their friends formed a group that met monthly to participate in some form of entertainment in their red hats and purple dresses—in public, of course! 

Marsha Clark was elected Queen Mother; Sue Cliett became our Historian/ Scrapbook Creator; and Gloria Carter was appointed News Article Writer/Scrapbook Narrator.  Marsha organized our group of ten members, then fondly named The Mad Hatters.  We became Official Charter Members of The National Red Hat Society on August 6, 2005.  Marsha led the Chapter for five years, then resigned as Queen Mother in 2010.

Upon Marsha’s resignation, Gloria Carter was elected Queen Mother in 2010: 

Also in 2010, the Mad Hatters voted to rename their Chapter, the “Georgia Girls Red Hatters.”  Today the Georgia Girls consist of eight members and continue to meet monthly in various local places on fourth Thursday nights of each month.  We are still active, still having FUN, and still wearing PURPLE and RED!

Gloria Carter

Queen Mother

Red Hatters Poem

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 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 will 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.

                  By Jenny Joseph

A New Day

Today a new blog is born to celebrate Georgia Girls Red Hatters' Society in Pembroke - Ellabell.

Please stay tuned as we build our site ...