ROADS WELL TRAVELED
Observations and Conversations
Why Tiaras Are Better Than Hats
By: Cheryl Ilov
Everyone has heard of the infamous Red Hat Society, where women of a “certain age” go out on the town wearing red hats and purple dresses. For you guys out there who have no idea what I’m talking about, this idea was inspired by the poem written by Jenny Joseph Titled “Warning.”
In it the author declares that “when she is an old woman, she will wear purple with a red hat which doesn’t go and doesn’t suit her.” Initially, the sole requirement to join the group was that you were a woman of 50. Hmmm. The only problem with that is 50 isn’t all that old.
At the magic age of 50 we’re at the precipice of the prime of our lives, and we’re just getting started. I don’t know about you, but my 30s weren’t that great. My 40s were even worse. I felt like if I could make it to the big 5-0, maybe my life would turn around.
To be honest, there were times when I didn’t think I would make it to 50, and neither did some of my friends. And then I heard about the Red Hat Society, and I got to thinking, “What an interesting concept.” But, I didn’t want a hat. Nope, no red hat for me. What I wanted was a tiara. A red tiara. One that sparkled.
I figured I earned it. I felt I deserved it. Plus, the thought of having a shiny red tiara appealed to my imagination and irrepressible, if not twisted, sense of humor. I envisioned a whole new society of sassy women walking around town with rays of crimson emitting from the top of their heads. I saw it so clearly that I even told my girlfriends about it.
Just the thought of a red tiara helped me crawl to the finish line to the big 5-0, where three of my closest friends were waiting with (you guessed it), a red tiara. All three of them were wearing their own red tiaras at a fabulous party at a restaurant downtown where they threw the best birthday party I ever had in my entire life.
Even a group of firemen showed up. When they burst into the banquet room, I thought they were the entertainment. It’s really not my thing, but I figured my friends really went all out. We looked at each other and wondered who hired them and what was going to happen next, one of the firemen told us to please vacate the premises. Apparently we were having such a great time we never heard the fire alarm. Ooops.
I learned that turning 50 is not the end of the world, but the beginning of whole new adventure. Next, when you have a dream, it’s important to share it with your friends. Most of all, everyone looks good in a red tiara, and it doesn’t mess up your hair the way a hat does. Besides, a red tiara goes with everything. And that is why tiaras are better than hats.
