A New Business Challenge

**slick4591**[$] · #1 05-09-2005, 09:38 PM

Ever heard of the Red Hat Society? Well, I didn't until last Friday when I received a phone call from one of the antique store owners in town. Seems like the Society had a local sandwich shop on the hook to do a foo-foo type lunch for 33 of 'em this Thursday. (Okay, it was chicken salad, garden salad and some fruit. Foo-foo stuff to me, anyway)

So, on Thursday the sandwich shop calls them and says they'd still love to do it, but they won't be in business on that day. Huh? Guess who the antique lady calls because they REALLY want them in our town on Thursday? I, for some stupid reason, accepted the challenge.

When I told Tracy about it it seemed like this was something close to orgasmic for her because she is now taking off work to make sure the details are done to HER standards. (In reality she taking off because she doesn't think I understand foo-foo.

)

Ok, so I'm known around here for my BBQ, catfish, chicken tenders and chicken-fried steak, and I'm not sure I want a reputation for chicken salad. It's too damn foo-foo. But here goes.

**theworm**[$] · #2 05-09-2005, 09:42 PM

Huh? You have to make chicken salad? You can't serve them normal stuff from your menu? I mean, it would be horrible if they got BBQ sauce on their red hats and purple dresses, but BBQ sandwiches with cole slaw? They can use plastic forks and napkins.
Take pics. This will be hysterical!

brian_igo · #3 05-09-2005, 09:54 PM

Hmmmmm. Watercrest sandwiches and a Lone Star. This could be a lunch they won't soon forget.

**mrisch**[$] · #4 05-09-2005, 10:01 PM

My mom's a member of the Red Hat Society. And she eats BBQ. She also makes a mean chicken salad.

**Joubert**[$] · #5 05-09-2005, 10:48 PM

I ran into a bunch of 'em at a restaurant on top of a 30 story office building in Memphis. They were pretty cool.

*emeleel* · #6 05-09-2005, 10:58 PM

Just so you know what you're dealing with, don't forget to go over the poem that started the whole thing:

Quote:

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>Warning
</TD><TD width=120></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

</TD></TR><TR><TD>

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width=20> </TD><TD vAlign=top>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 sandles, 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 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 pickles 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.

Jenny Joseph</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

**Prepoia**[$] · #7 05-09-2005, 10:58 PM

The red hat club is one that I don't belong to but hope to some day. It's all about "women of a certain age" enjoying whatever that age is to the fullest. Dainty foo foo they're not. They'll love you Slick

**lynnzop**[$] · #8 05-09-2005, 11:08 PM

I do a bunch of Red Hat jewelry stuff. Every once in a while you get a gaggle of them coming through all dressed in their finery. They always appear to be having fun, but it's probably not something I'll ever get into...I'd be more into the girlfriend group that goes out partying and drinking and singing karoke at a bar where there's a bunch of little leaguers singing about big butts.

Good luck Slick...and yes, take pictures. They ARE a hoot when they all get gathered in one place. (You should have someone photoshop the BBQ Place pig into a red hat/purple dress and put up a poster to commemorate the occasion

)

Lynn

**theworm**[$] · #9 05-09-2005, 11:16 PM

I've seen some red hats out in full garb, and they sure stand out, but they look like they're having fun. I don't really understand what they do, or how people join, but it seems to be about living life and having fun, and while I don't really get, I fully support it!

eris esoteric · #10 05-09-2005, 11:27 PM

I saw some lovely red hats in the store the other day. Perhaps I should start my own chapter.

**theworm**[$] · #11 05-09-2005, 11:27 PM

How old does one have to be to be a "Red Hat" lady? Aren't there some younger women in pink hat groups?

**lynnzop**[$] · #12 05-09-2005, 11:30 PM

You have to be 50 to be in a Red Hat society. Pink and lavender ladies are under 50 and invited to be "ladies in waiting".

Other than that, there are no rules, no dues, no memberships. That's part of the charm...if you want to start up a Red Hat club in your area, you just start one up with your friends. (I think if you want to join one of the existing ones you have to sort of be invited in or something...can't just crash the party.)

**Prepoia**[$] · #13 05-10-2005, 12:17 AM

You sort of "earn" your hat by living fully and long. Young-uns can't join. And what you described Lynn are just the kinds of activities loved by these groups. Free to be...you and me....

**mjfrombuffalo**[$] · #14 05-10-2005, 12:24 AM

Slick - definitely nix the chicken salad and go with BBQ. My "little old lady" sisters in Eastern Star love to do stuff that's different from the norm, that's half the fun.

**taurusmoon** · #15 05-10-2005, 10:26 AM

Quote:

lynnzop said

(You should have someone photoshop the BBQ Place pig into a red hat/purple dress and put up a poster to commemorate the occasion

)

Lynn

Good idea, Lynn.

Here goes:

The full size image can be printed out to fit on letter-size paper. It's in my photo album if you want it, Dennis.

You can mount it to an easel back or slip it into a document frame.

eris esoteric · #16 05-10-2005, 10:48 AM

I LOVE it. Slick, trust me, as an Old-Broad-In-Training, USE THIS PIC.

**soxfan**[$] · #17 05-10-2005, 10:49 AM

:thumbs:

**theworm**[$] · #18 05-10-2005, 11:07 AM

OMG - Sara that's PERFECT!!!

Slick - you must use it!!! Put one on the door, and minis on the tables - or do something with it. They'll LOVE it!

**slick4591**[$] · #19 05-10-2005, 11:19 AM

I love it too!

Going to go and print now. Thanks, Sara!

**taurusmoon** · #20 05-10-2005, 11:21 AM

You're welcome.

Remember to wipe the sauce off your fingers before you hang it anywhere.

Redlass · #21 05-10-2005, 12:20 PM

Eris:
There are already some red hatters in the area. We keep getting told that we should make red hats--and it is a very specific shade of red they're looking for. Others won't do.

I think it's especially fun when they travel in a group--I've seen them at the theater and such. They really do look like they're having a blast.

**theworm**[$] · #22 05-10-2005, 12:29 PM

Red Hat Society