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Episode 109

RENAISSANCE RUBY REDHAT

Our Ruby has just returned from a most wonderful Renaissance Convention in North Carolina. Queen Linda Towler (and her loyal subjects Andrena, Rosemarie, and Libby) organized this event and wrote:

“After the Middle Ages, there was a Renaissance (rebirth). For many of us, as we came through our own middle ages, the Red Hat Society was an important part of our rebirth.”

Ruby just loved that comparison, and decided that we are all renaissance women!!! What a great theme for a convention, especially since a Renaissance Fair was being held in the vicinity. Ruby was one of the first to board the bus that transported red hatters to the fair – and to another period of time. Her arrival coincided with the arrival of the king and queen and she followed them to a pavilion where a knighting ceremony was to take place. Within five minutes, Ruby was kneeling on a velvet pillow and receiving her new title, Dame Ruby Redhat.

Dame Ruby also had an opportunity to talk with royal ladies of the court and learned a great deal about their dress. No wonder they had ladies-in-waiting. It required nearly an hour to be in proper, Renaissance fashion. Pantaloons, corsets, chemises, farthingales, and best of all, bum rolls were the items of dress that one DIDN’T see. Bum rolls really tickled Ruby! If you don’t already know, a bum roll is rolled cloth circling the hip area, and attached to cone-shaped hoops. It keeps heavy fabric from straining the lower back. As far as Ruby, no, Dame Ruby, is concerned anything that can distract from the actual size of one’s hips, is OK with her. Y’all must get to a Renaissance Fair (remember Ruby was in the South).

Ruby also presided over a reduation (with EVM Linda) and did a little dubbing of her own. Susan and Connie became official “big girls” and donned the royal colors, and little, Miss Ann – just about Ruby’s size - shared the reduation spotlight as well. Ruby wondered if Barbie had been reduated this year. She is 50 now!

Ruby must tell you about a Scarlet Sparkle. Jeannie Robertson, who spoke at our second RHS convention in Nashville and was a guest speaker at the Renaissance Convention, was approached by the newly reduated Susan. Susan carried with her a newspaper article, a bit yellowed, with a large article and photos of her being crowned Miss July 4th by Jeannie. There was an accompanying story of Jeannie’s Miss North Carolina title bestowed several years prior to that. Susan and Jeannie had never crossed paths after that – until this convention. They laughed, hugged, and reminisced!

Well now, renaissance behind, Ruby is “fixin’” (that’s southern too) to get to the World Series. Whichever team wins, she knows that red hatters somewhere are going to be thrilled. That’s what makes Ruby happy!