Red Hat Society Phenomenon - Sue Ellen Cooper Gift To Linda Murphy - Warning by British Author Jenny Joseph

		The Red Hat phenomenon started with a simple gift. Sue Ellen Cooper gave a dear friend, Linda Murphy, a copy of the poem "Warning" by British author Jenny Joseph and a bright red vintage fedora to celebrate her 55th birthday in 1997. The poem begins: “When I am an old woman, I shall wear purple, With a red hat which doesn't go, and doesn't suit me….” The verses do on to talk about all the fun things the old woman will do to make up for all the years she was prim and proper. The poem ends with: “But maybe I ought to practice a little now, So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised.” Sue Ellen Cooper, now the Queen Mother of the Red Hat Society, explains the organization’s credo: “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."