Chugiak's Colorfully Clad Clan
(Note: this article appeared in the Aug. 5, 2010, edition of the Alaska Star ... and I had a hellah a good time with it)
STORY AND PHOTOS BY AMY SCHENCK
Alaska Star
The second Monday of every month, vibrant elderly ladies gather at the Chugiak-Eagle River Senior Center.
They eat, they laugh, they talk – and they don red-brimmed hats, billowing purple blouses, showy costume jewelry and downright regal feathers.
Despite all appearances, this isn't a chapter of the Red Hat Society, the national organization devoted to "greeting middle age with verve, humor and élan."
True to this group's rebellious nature, these are the Red Hat Renegades.
"We like being the Renegades," Sarah Mitchell said.
"We're an unruly bunch," Lola Norris chimed in.
"Plus, we're just fun," noted Mary Linda Pryor.
When you catch these ladies in a more matter-of-fact moment, they'll explain that the underlying reason for not being official Red Hats is that there's not enough bang for the buck. Living in Alaska, they don't have access to the promotions and other benefits offered to Lower 48'ers.
Many locals may know the Renegades from their numerous appearances in Chugiak's Fourth of July Parade. The colorfully clad gals ride down the Old Glenn Highway sitting on hay bales in the back of a horse-drawn wagon. They've won many awards for this parade entry, all of which hang proudly on the wall of the sunlit room in the Denali View building where the Renegades meet.
But this year the ladies decided not to participate in the parade.
"We decided to give someone else a chance," Sybelle Wilson said.
And then the real reason came out. It was just too difficult for many of the ladies to climb up into the wagon.
The Renegades don't beat around the bush about the fact they're getting up there in years. And sometimes their age is even the subject of some jest.
Early in the meeting, the ladies discussed the idea of buying water jugs.
"What we want to do is tell people to drink water so they don't get dehydrated," Wilson explained.
As Mitchell noted that she's better about drinking her eight glasses of water a day if she has a bottle right next to her, Marie Kirchner leaned over and whispered:
"If we're not old enough now to know to drink water ..." she said, trailing off with a laugh.
Each lady brings at least $1 to every meeting to put in the Renegade's coffers. The funds go to various projects – everything from buying socks for Covenant House and making donations to the Food Bank to renting the wagon for the parade. As of July 12, the Renegades had collected $212.20, as reported during their short business session at the beginning of their gathering.
After going through business items and eating a snack, the Renegades spend the remainder of their gatherings listening to a speaker or engaging in some sort of activity. At their last meeting Susan Scheunemann, visiting from Alabama, brought Mardi Gras beads to lead a craft project.
Using scissors, the Renegades cut up some of the necklaces and attached the pieces to the main necklace to create a dazzling accessory that somehow matched all of their outfits, perfectly.
As they crafted, they chatted. They talked about their collections – key chains, angels, frogs and snowmen – and their farm-girl days.
"I'm a hillbilly – born and bred hillbilly," Mitchell announced.
She recalled her first encounter with the Renegades.
"When I first moved in, I heard these people having the best time for a couple of hours. And I said, 'I've got to find out what's going on. Is there a bar or something?'" she said. "It was the Red Hats."
Cathy Platel, president of the group, commented that one of the best aspects of the Renegades is that it gives the ladies something to look forward to. Life at the senior center – where many of the Renegades are residents – can be very much the same day after day, she said.
"It makes us stretch ourselves," she said. "That's awfully important in a place like this, it really is," she said.
Eventually another meeting of the Red Hat Renegades drew to a close, and was pronounced a success.
"Well girls, this was lovely meeting. Scrumptious food," Pryor said.
STORY AND PHOTOS BY AMY SCHENCKAlaska Star
The second Monday of every month, vibrant elderly ladies gather at the Chugiak-Eagle River Senior Center.
They eat, they laugh, they talk – and they don red-brimmed hats, billowing purple blouses, showy costume jewelry and downright regal feathers.
Despite all appearances, this isn't a chapter of the Red Hat Society, the national organization devoted to "greeting middle age with verve, humor and élan."
True to this group's rebellious nature, these are the Red Hat Renegades.
"We like being the Renegades," Sarah Mitchell said.
"We're an unruly bunch," Lola Norris chimed in.
"Plus, we're just fun," noted Mary Linda Pryor.
When you catch these ladies in a more matter-of-fact moment, they'll explain that the underlying reason for not being official Red Hats is that there's not enough bang for the buck. Living in Alaska, they don't have access to the promotions and other benefits offered to Lower 48'ers.
Many locals may know the Renegades from their numerous appearances in Chugiak's Fourth of July Parade. The colorfully clad gals ride down the Old Glenn Highway sitting on hay bales in the back of a horse-drawn wagon. They've won many awards for this parade entry, all of which hang proudly on the wall of the sunlit room in the Denali View building where the Renegades meet.
But this year the ladies decided not to participate in the parade.
"We decided to give someone else a chance," Sybelle Wilson said.
And then the real reason came out. It was just too difficult for many of the ladies to climb up into the wagon.
The Renegades don't beat around the bush about the fact they're getting up there in years. And sometimes their age is even the subject of some jest.
Early in the meeting, the ladies discussed the idea of buying water jugs.
"What we want to do is tell people to drink water so they don't get dehydrated," Wilson explained.
As Mitchell noted that she's better about drinking her eight glasses of water a day if she has a bottle right next to her, Marie Kirchner leaned over and whispered:
"If we're not old enough now to know to drink water ..." she said, trailing off with a laugh.
Each lady brings at least $1 to every meeting to put in the Renegade's coffers. The funds go to various projects – everything from buying socks for Covenant House and making donations to the Food Bank to renting the wagon for the parade. As of July 12, the Renegades had collected $212.20, as reported during their short business session at the beginning of their gathering.
After going through business items and eating a snack, the Renegades spend the remainder of their gatherings listening to a speaker or engaging in some sort of activity. At their last meeting Susan Scheunemann, visiting from Alabama, brought Mardi Gras beads to lead a craft project.
Using scissors, the Renegades cut up some of the necklaces and attached the pieces to the main necklace to create a dazzling accessory that somehow matched all of their outfits, perfectly.
As they crafted, they chatted. They talked about their collections – key chains, angels, frogs and snowmen – and their farm-girl days.
"I'm a hillbilly – born and bred hillbilly," Mitchell announced.
She recalled her first encounter with the Renegades.
"When I first moved in, I heard these people having the best time for a couple of hours. And I said, 'I've got to find out what's going on. Is there a bar or something?'" she said. "It was the Red Hats."
Cathy Platel, president of the group, commented that one of the best aspects of the Renegades is that it gives the ladies something to look forward to. Life at the senior center – where many of the Renegades are residents – can be very much the same day after day, she said.
"It makes us stretch ourselves," she said. "That's awfully important in a place like this, it really is," she said.
Eventually another meeting of the Red Hat Renegades drew to a close, and was pronounced a success.
"Well girls, this was lovely meeting. Scrumptious food," Pryor said.
posted by Amy | 7:39 PM
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