Sisters in Crimson
By Christina Smith
British poet Jenny Joseph once wrote, When I am an old woman I shall wear purple; With a red hat which doesn't go and doesn't suit me.
Living the lines of Joseph's poem, Myrna Johnson wears purple and red hats when she leaves the house. It is the little girl coming out to play.
"It's just about having fun," she said. "This is letting the inner child out to play and not being looked down on while doing it."
Recently, seven of the 62 Crimson Belles of Pinellas, a chapter of the Red Hat Society, talked about why they choose to put on red hats, wear purple clothes and march to the beat of Jenny Joseph's poem "Warning."
The women were very candid as to say why they wanted to become part of the Red Hat Society phenomenon, which has 26,180 chapters in 29 countries. The society was established in the spring of 2000.
The seven women said they joined the Crimson Belles to have fun, but after listening and watching the women, one might think there is more to those red hats then just having plain old fun, including friendship, support and the opportunity be with women their age and being legally outlandish.
Gere (pronounced Jerry) Shwoyer, founder of the Crimson Belles, said when she puts on the red hat and purple clothes she is visible to world.
"When we go out, we're whistled at and young men stop us," said Shwoyer, who is referred to as the Queen Mother. "We are anything but invisible now."
Shwoyer said there are only two rules for all Red Hatters, which are considered national rules.
"You have to be 50 years old and you have to wear a red hat and some purple, that's it," Shwoyer said
Everyone can give herself a name if she wants.
One Crimson Belle calls herself Anti-Parliamentarian; she makes sure there aren't any more rules added. The woman in charge of transportation goes by the name of Lady Gad-A-Bout. The dues collector is called Princess Money Bags. And the women who takes notes for the Queen Mother at the meetings answers to the name of Sextariat.
Shwoyer said there is a society for women younger than 50-the Pink Hatters. "We call them the ladies in waiting," Shwoyer said. "When they turn 50, then they can red-uate."
All of the members agreed that there are only two topics they never discuss-religion and politics.
"I think as you get older those things aren't as important anymore," said Bobbi Jean Wurst.
In their younger days, the women experienced a lot. Today, they would much rather keep things light.
"We've all been through the Depression and several wars. This is just about having fun," said the Queen Mother. "We do talk about sex, though."
The seven women have a lot in common. They are all widows. Most have seen their children leave the nest. All of them have retired from some career.
They all have moved to Florida from some other part of the country within the last 20 years. Today, many of them call Roberts Mobile Park on Gandy Boulevard home. Or at least they call it home in the wintertime. And because many of them live by themselves, joining the Crimson Belles was a way for them to make friends and a reason to get out and be active.
"This is great therapy for me," said Jinny Hurst, who suffered a heart attack nearly a month ago. "I get out now, but before I was staying at home all the time."
For Helen Uber, the purpose of Crimson Belles is to give support.
"The best thing about the group is that if we need to go somewhere, because there are days when I can't drive, there is always someone who will take me where I need to go," she said. "It's really about being here and supporting each other."
Kelli Love, Johnson's daughter, said she loves it that her mother is part of the group.
"I think it's wonderful for older people to have a support group," said Love. "Especially women. Most of them have lost their husbands and they need other women to talk to. She's got friends and people to share her life, goals and dreams with and they can do the same. I just think it's wonderful."
Love said her mother is always up for new things, but said she was a little concerned about the red and purple at first.
"I told her to go for it. But the first time I saw her in the outfit I said to her, 'You're going out of the house in that outfit?' It took awhile for me to get used to it," said Love.
The Crimson Belles became an official Red Hat chapter last November. Shwoyer said she had been thinking about it for the last two years, but because she had health problems she wasn't able to until November. She said she started the chapter because she just loves cutting loose and playing tricks on other people.
At the group's first meeting, Shwoyer hoped 20 women would show up. Thirty-two came. That's when Shwoyer said she knew the chapter was going to be a hit.
The chapter meets once a month-almost always around noon. In their red hats and purple dresses, they have gone to a Japanese restaurant, to the ballet, to afternoon tea and a dinner theater-all 62 of them. They have even gone to breakfast wearing their pajamas. This fall they plan to take a luncheon cruise.
Bonny Ludwig, vice president of Bliss Gifts and Tea Room, remembers when the Crimson Belles walked into her shop two weeks ago. Ludwig said there was no way she could forget them.
"We get around 30 (Red Hat) groups in here a year," said Ludwig. "And I would say (Crimson Belles) were one of the most flamboyant groups we've had. They were really a fun group. You couldn't miss them."
Ludwig said she is amazed by the women and loves the fact that they are having a good time.
"The red hat ladies are definitely more fun people. They aren't uptight," said Ludwig. "They just laugh a lot and play games. They act like ladies having fun."
But having fun just wasn't enough for the Crimson Belles. Last April, Shwoyer decided the group should be doing more. She proposed the idea of donating items to C.A.S.A., a local organization that provides safe housing for abused women, children and men.
Shwoyer said the women were so thrilled with the idea that the first month's collection filled a van with toys, clothes and appliances.
"They have just embraced the idea of helping out someone else," said Shwoyer. "We're able to have fun, but yet we're still doing something worthwhile."
Bobbi Jean Wurst said she most likely would not have joined the Crimson Belles if they had not decided to do more than just have fun all the time.
"There are a lot of things to do around here, and I just felt it in my heart that we should do something," said Wurst. "I couldn't have joined just to have fun."
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The history behind the red hat and purple clothes:
It all began when Sue Ellen Cooper bought a red hat in a thrift store. She then read Jenny Joseph's poem "Warning." In the poem, Joseph talks about growing old and wearing purple clothes and a red hat.
At a birthday party in 1998, Cooper gave a red hat and a copy of Joseph's poem to a friend. And then she gave the same gift to another friend and then to another and another.
Until on April 25, 2000, Cooper, whom the members call the Exalted Queen Mother, and her friends decided to form a Red Hat Society in Fullerton, Calif.
The Red Hat Society currently has more than 26,000 chapters in 29 countries.
In an official statement, Cooper details the purpose of the Red Hat Society.
"The Red Hat Society began as a result of a few women deciding to greet middle age with verve, humor and elan. 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."
To sum it up, Donna Rhoades, known as Lady Song Bird of the hatquarters, said the society is about being queens and princess.
"Society views [someone over 50] as that person who has done it all and has become invisible," said Rhoades. "They've been the mother, the wife, the career person and they've fulfilled a lot of things in their lives. They've done everything for everyone else but haven't taken time out for themselves."
Rhoades said there no rules for the society, only suggestions. And although many Red Hat chapters do participate in charitable activities, Rhoades said the society does not promote it.
"There are a lot of venues out there for them to participate in charity," said Rhoades. "It's great if a chapter decides to do something, but this was created to be strictly a social organization for women to have fun and friendship."
The Red Hat Society calls itself a "disorganization" rather than an organization.
"There isn't a lot of organization in what we do," said Rhoades. "The women can go where they want, pick a name they want to call their chapter and do whatever they want to do."
The Red Hat Society does hold regional conventions and a national convention once a year. Next year's convention will be in Las Vegas.
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