Hi Kristin,
Speaking for the old ladies I know, few of us would sacrifice our sexual viability to “sit around in a flock of women whose idea of a good time is meeting for tea” [It’s better to light a candle than curse the red hats, Kristin Gehring’s Big Week, Jan. 3]. Most of our “flock” prefer to sit around with wine. And–you may not believe it–but “sexual viability” is no longer on the top of our wish list!
Four years ago when this red hat thing started to catch on, I talked my sisters, daughters, daughter-in-laws and cousins to get together at our summer place in Door County for a red hat gathering (those under 50 wear pink … oh never mind). Anyway, they all thought it was weird but agreed to humor me. We’ve “gathered” once a year since, and it’s been a hoot.
Kristin, I (and probably your mom, too) was brought up in the age of girdles, which “held it all in.” We did all the housework, cooking, child care, nursing–everything for everyone else and rarely anything for ourselves. I’m sure you read the poem that started all this. So give us a break–let us “let it all hang out and be wild” once in a while and treasure that ornament!
Karen Scafidi
Oak Park
