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Red Hatters in Comics

 

 

 

St. Louis Red Hatters make the Friday Broadcast

July 27, 2008

The Red Hat Church Ladies along with the Red Hat Tamales enjoyed a ride on the carousel at the St Louis Mills Mall. In fact, the brightly colored ladies drew a bit of a crowd--the children at the mall crowded around the carousel to take a look. It's not often you see grown women having so much fun that even the kids are envious...but it's wonderful when it happens!

 

 

See the picture on the left here <<>>

 

See the picture on the right here <<>> 

"A picture is worth a thousand words."  We all know that one.  Wouldn't you agree that a heart-warming picture is worth a thousand smiles?

Usually when you look at pictures of a carousel, you see lots of children riding horses, and all the adults gathered around the edges watching the fun.  Well these Hatters weren't content just to watch--they wanted in on the fun, too!  One of the Hatters got a great shot of some kids standing at the edge of the ride, watching the grown Hatters have fun!  Don't you have a smile?

 

 

 

 

 Queen Mother Norma Mueller wrote in to report a Scarlet Sparkle! The Big Spring Hens & Chicks were having lunch at the Trailside Bar and Grill, which is located near a new bridge being built over the river. The ladies trooped into the restaurant in full regalia, which delighted the other diners and prompted many questions about their chapter and the Society. After a good meal, the ladies were laughing and having a lovely time, when the waitress came in with an announcement.

One of the men working on the new bridge had paid for the Hatters' lunch! Norma asked the waitress to invite their benefactor to join the Hatters so they could thank him, but was informed that he had already left. The waitress assured the chapter that the gentleman came in frequently for lunch, and she would pass along their thanks. No one had a thank-you card handy, but Queen Norma delved into her purse for a pad of purple paper, and wrote a note which the chapterettes signed. After leaving the note with the waitress to be delivered, the chapter went on their way: they made sure to honk their support of the workers as they went over the new bridge!

Submitted by Persnickety

The Hats Have It All

By:  Joan M. Thomas
01-08-2008 www.PrimeLifecircuit.com


"Hats are making a comeback,” asserts Dianne Isbell, evidencing “I see more hats in church lately.”  Drawing the enthusiastic interest of over 600 redhatted ladies assembled at Orlando Gardens Hoffmeister, the owner of Dianne Creations gives an engaging presentation on the history and evolution of hats.

Her extraordinary collection of vintage hats, displayed next to thepodium, compliments her informative address. Relating the functional and/or aesthetic source of each fashion’s creation, Isbell points to one close-fitting cap called a “dust hat,” and explains the origin of the name. It seems that in the 1800s, housewives and cleaning women donned such as that to protect their hair when attending to their dusting chores. “Wow, I didn’t know that!” declares someone. An explanation of each style’s derivation promptsimilar remarks. Then, adding a modern twist, 12 damsels clad in purple attire parade before the group, modeling contemporary hats, all red or pink. Each hat in the room, whether displayed, modeled, or worn by someone in the audience, is unique. As are the individual members of the St. Louis Red Hatters. Anyone present at that annual Rendezvous on November 10 would agree.

Like hats, the Red Hat Society has evolved over the years. Next April, the organization will celebrate its tenth anniversary. It all started when a small group of friends, inspired by the poem “Warning” (about how the female writer decides she will not wither when she transitions from maiden to matron), met for tea wearing purple dresses and red hats. The red hat signifies its wearer, blossoming at age fifty. Today, Red Hat chapters dot cities and towns throughout the United States. There are even some in such far-reaching places as Kiev in the Ukraine and Beijing, China.

Each chapter limits its number of members, maintaining that level of intimacy that forges the bonds of sisterhood. Each chapter has its own name, such as the Heaven’s Diadem in Kiev, the Beijing Beauties in China, and the Sassy Sages in St. Louis, Missouri. Each group designates a “Queen” to serve as its leader. Five years ago, some 25 St. Louis area Queens decided that it would be nice to assemble the bythen hundreds of local chapters for a social event. That “Holiday Fling” in 2002 was so successful, that it became an annual happening, now called the St. Louis Red Hatters Rendezvous. The St. Louis group of chapters now has its own red hat-motif pin, and last year it established a web site, www.stlouisredhatters.com.

But its members aren’t confined to St.Louis for socialization. The head organization, the Red Hat Society, holds all sorts of soirees. In January, members from all over will flock to Las Vegas for the annual convention, aptly dubbed Jack Pot Jubilee. A convention promotion urges members to come participate in the longest cancan line ever recorded in order to make the Guinness Book of World Records. That’s just one example of how these lasses fend off negative attitudes on aging. The recent St. Louis Rendezvous carried the themeSouthern Sensation. Predictably, a good number of attendees came decked out in true Southern Belle style - lacy parasols, hoop skirts, bared shoulders and wide-brim sunbonnets. Much to everyone’s amusement, some of those bare shoulders revealed elaborate tattoos! Two such lovely ladies coyly retreated to the veranda (patio) to sneak a smoke. Scarlet O’Hara herself might have done the same. Adding to the irony, the pair proudly revealed their chapter’s designation - the Harley Honeys. They are all motorcycle enthusiasts.

The whole idea is to have a place where there is fun after fifty (and before) for women of all walks of life. And these ladies do know how to have fun. That day, a red hatted doll bearing the name tag “Shirley,” and hovering over a smaller identical doll took a prominent spot near a place setting on the Sassy Sages’ table. Shirley’s owner Judy York related how she once lost Shirley at a red hat function. Months later, she received a letter addressed to “Shirley’s Mom” in the mail. The hand-printed note, signed “Shirley,” assured Judy that the kidnappers were treating her well. Eventually, Shirley came home, and brought with her a child that arrived during her captivity - the smaller doll. Everyone in Judy’s chapter goes along with the joke. The identity of the kidnapper and the father of the “child” remains a mystery.

That’s just a few examples of not taking life too seriously that aids in the red hatters’ joyous good times. They come from all backgrounds, every known occupation or profession and all ethnic groups. They have in common their sisterhood and like women of all ages, they love to shop. Every Rendezvous features a group of vendors selling various red hat paraphernalia: stoneware, jewelry, embroidery, clothing and of course, hats.

The following words found on the Red Hat Society web site, theredhatsociety.com explains their viewpoint: “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.” The world might be a better place if everyone followed that ideology.