Sunday, November 15, 2015

When I am Old I Shall Wear Purple ...

Do you know this poem?  It's one of my favorites, and I was thinking about it this morning.  Why, you ask?




Because I am wearing purple, that's why!  (Not that I consider myself to be OLD ... just turned 56, and I feel pretty spunky most of the time.)

A little over a month ago, I saw this hair dye on the shelf at Walmart ... as I was cutting across the hair color aisle on my way to the pharmacy.  Something about this color spoke to me,  It's fun, it's sassy, and I love it.




Some people cover and hide their grays ... for now, I am making mine into a fashion statement.  


Warning!
by Jenny Joseph

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 sandals, 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 pickle 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.

50 comments:

  1. Connie, I LIKE your hair! Every now and again, I'll do one of those wash out rinses...purple, orange, red or whatever. It's fun and does no harm. As to the poem, I like it but like mine better - http://thistlecovefarm.blogspot.com/2014/08/time-is-fleetingwear-purple-now.html - I'm not waiting, can't afford to; today is the youngest I'll ever be and death is closer by one day.
    Time is Fleeting, Wear Purple NOW.
    P. S. I'll be spending a few days with family in central VA and think it's time to visit Dave's grave. I haven't since the funeral.

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    1. I remember your poem, and I like it a LOT! It’s best not to put things off … do it, whatever IT is, and enjoy it TODAY.

      I go by and see Dave most times when I’m at the cemetery. I never knew him, but I sort of feel like I did. Haven’t planted anything there for him. I plan to, tho.

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  2. Looks great on you, Connie! I'm growing out my greys, so I'm ombre right now. How long will the purple last, does it just wash out, or grow out?

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    1. I love a good head of grey hair! Unfortunately, I doubt I will ever have one of those. My formerly-chestnut hair is uninteresting brown with wiry greys throughout and in stripes. This hair color is demi-permanent, so it washes out gradually. For me, it's lasting pretty well for about three weeks ... I only shampoo my hair every three days, which may be making it last longer. I have a dedicated purple towel for my hair, and I changed my pillowcase to purple, to avoid ruining anything that ISN'T purple.

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  3. I love it! You can keep it going a lot longer than its shelf life with a violet based shampoo. My favorite is by Tressa.

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    1. I’m glad you like it! This is a classic case of WWSD … what would Stephen do? He would go for it, of course. I am continuously getting compliments from strangers, which was weird to get used to at first. This color washes out continuously. Whenever I shampoo, the suds remind me of the color of cotton candy. I think my next application will be something with a bit more staying power. Any recommendations?

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  4. Love the hair!! Mine is so dark with just a bit of grey here and there so I'm stuck with old brown hair. I love that poem!
    hugs,
    Linda

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    1. My hair is dark, too, with scattered greys and a couple of streaks ... the most obvious streak is right in front.

      You're only stuck with it if you want to be. For the cost of a box of hair dye, and a little bit of your time, you can be anything you want to be.

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  5. Replies
    1. Thanks, Anne. I'm really glad that it turned out as nice as it did ... could have just as easily been a disaster. If it hadn't looked good, it's just hair color, and hair grows out (especially when it's as short as I keep mine). When I first did it last month, most people thought that it was for Halloween.

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  6. I love that poem AND your purple hair, you sassy sister! That poem is the one that was the catalyst for the Red Hat clubs that are all over. What fun you will have with that do!

    Last night the three year old said to me- How come you look so weird. I asked what he meant. He said- You have white hair and that's weird and your eyes are weird. I asked WHY my eyes were weird. He said- Because they are GREEN and THAT IS REALLY WEIRD. I should've taped the little weirdo's mouth shut -but I didn't- I am nice like that! xo Diana

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    1. Your story is a perfect example of why I adore three-year-olds! They communicate in their own little way, and we can learn a lot from their honesty and curiosity. It seems perfectly okay for a toddler to ask questions like that ... some adults, though, haven't figured out that this isn't the way that THEY should behave.

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    2. I'll bet he just heard the word "weird" not too long ago, and is fascinated by it! That's what I did and what my son did when we were growing up, used that new word every chance we got! :-)

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  7. My mom gave the poem to me when I was a teen. I love it and I love the purple hair! (Don't love the upkeep of having purple hair though).

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    1. In your case, it should read, "When I am an old woman I will wear black ... just like I'm doing every OTHER day of my life." Upkeep isn't too bad, except for allowing for the wash out and fade. Three weeks appears to be the redo point. I'm okay with that.

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  8. I know this poem well, and you wear that purple well too!! I love it, and it's perfectly you!!!!

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    1. Purple is one of the few colors that's left in my wardrobe, as I have pared down to only things that I love. Makes sense that I would be drawn to it for this, too.

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  9. Cute hair color and style for you, and I like this poem and aim to live by it, from time to time, when the mood suits me.

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    1. The style has been with me for three years or so. I played with long hair, mid-length, layered bob, and other styles. Realized that I'm happiest with short short, and that's how it is. Makes it less stressful to commit to a change like color, when I know that a mistake can be grown out in six months or less. I'm really glad that this turned out so well and that I love it so much!

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  10. Well, I've had just about every hair color but I haven't had purple!
    That looks adorable on you!
    And I love the cut.
    Very cool!

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    1. I cut my hair off for the last time three summers ago. Pixie suits me, and I enjoy it like crazy

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  11. Definitely a keeper! No wonder you're getting compliments on the street!!

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    1. Thanks! It's definitely not what one expects when passing a 50-something woman. I tend to do stuff like that. It's fun.

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  12. Love your hair, Connie! Of course you would look good in any color. The poem is a favorite of mine. ♥

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    1. Thank you! I like that poem mainly because it professes that we should stop worrying about what other people think and should do what brings us joy. Go to the link that Sandra (Thistle Cove Farm) posted in her comment and read her version of the concept. It's really good.

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  13. It looks good on you... I wouldn't be able to pull it off.

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    1. I think most of the reason why I can do this is because most people have no idea what I will do next. I think it's perfectly normal to impulsively color my hair like this. Others would agonize. I love that you already know that it doesn't suit you.

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  14. The purple suits you Connie. My hair is mostly silver and to the middle of my back. I used to color my hair, but got tired of it after awhile, too much work.

    Enjoy ~ You are lovely whatever color your hair is ~ FlowerLady

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    1. If I had silver hair, I wouldn't touch a single strand of it. Mine will never be like that, if my parents are the example. My dad is 80 and my mom isn't far behind him, and neither of them are totally grey. I have what my mom does ... scattered greys all over and streaks of grey here and there. My 'skunk stripe' in the front is the funnest part of this. The coolest part of this purple is that my greys are the brightest, and my brown hair just gets a light tinge.

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  15. It looks terrific, Connie! As I get more gray, I'll have to consider this route. ;-)

    Shirley

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  16. Yep- remember that poem well!
    Luv the new hair, especially the cut! Although I am still jealous of the former LONG hair! ; D
    Hey- how's the hearing?
    Catherine

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    1. I have loved having this cut. It's so easy! As of now, I doubt that I will grow my hair out again. There are days when I miss having a braid down my back, tho.

      The hearing is awesome. I'm still getting used to what things sound like, and it's difficult for me to tell which direction sounds are coming from. Getting better at that all the time.

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  17. Your purple locks suit you! Very cute!

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    1. Thanks, Sharrie! It was great to spend time with you while I was in Texas.

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  18. I love it! I have never, ever dyed my hair, and don't plan on it, but this looks great! My short hair is gone, now heading back down my back, silver through out, wish it would all turn. My dad's side all had white hair by 50, Mom and her mother both died with dark brown, almost black hair and hardly any grey...I'm in the middle, already more than both of them together, but the dark brown is really holding on. The purple suits you! Sassy Lady!

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    1. My dad's mom lived to be 105, and she still wasn't totally grey. I go back and forth between leaving the grey and dying it. I have never tried to hide it, tho. I dye it colors. I've used blonde or reddish orange to make it into highlights, and I had purple one time before a couple of years ago.

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  19. You are so rockin' that purple! Love it!

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  20. LOVE your hair!! And I've always loved that poem, it will be time to put it up on MY blog soon.

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    1. Thank you, thank you. Sounds like you have an idea cooking. Can’t wait to see what it is.

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  21. That is amazing! I don't think it would look quite so good on blonde hair (unfortunately for me) but I LOVE it on you.

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  22. I love your hair! And I enjoyed the poem.
    Amalia
    xo

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    1. Thank you! I would have done this a long time ago if I had known how happy it would make me.

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  23. Your purple hair looks very fashionable and decent Conny, not punky but ladylike!
    I don't want gray hair, but I have some. Until now I can cover my grays among the blonds with bright blond stripes.

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  24. Punk purple was my worst fear! I figured that it wasn't likely to happen, since I didn't bleach my hair before dying it.

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