The Texas Ramblers, an "official" chapter of the "Red Hat Society", was chartered February 14, 2001, with ten charter members. However, it all started Januay 1, 2001 --- I went online after reading the article about Sue Ellen's "Red Hat Society" and signed up -- I declared myself Queen and sent in the registration fee for the Rambling Roses. We subsequently changed our name to the Texas Ramblers because several other chapters started using "Rambling Roses" in their names.

Our "official" monthly events are usually on Saturdays - once a month. At other times during the month we get together for other events - booksignings, gallery showings, movies, plays, birthday parties, hat swaps, etc.

We often participate in "blended" events with other area chapters. And, we do "Cheap Dates" - spur of the moment get-togethers, which usually include lunch or dinner and a movie.

Our chapter is a diverse group of ladies - some married, some have significant others, some single, divorced, or widowed. We are a mixture of still-working full-timers and retired ladies.

We do not meet in the same area of town each month...we are Ramblers and we do Ramble...all over the city and beyond.

Our current Rambler's Queen's Council consists of Marie Christopher, Founding Queen Mother; Eloise Behrends, Co-Queen (and Red Hot Mama); Sue Shefman, Duchess of Frivolity; and Mary Haper, Countess of Creativity. Thanks, ladies! I appreciate all your hard work.

Happy trails to you, until we meet again.
Happy trails to you, keep smilin' until then.
Who cares about the clouds when we're together?
Just sing a song and bring the sunny weather.

Happy trails to you, 'till we meet again.
Some trails are happy ones, Others are blue.
It's the way you ride the trail that counts, Here's a happy one for you.

Happy trails to you, until we meet again.
Happy trails to you, keep smilin' until then.
Who cares about the clouds when we're together?
Just sing a song and bring the sunny weather.
Happy trails to you, 'till we meet again.

Hat Etiquette

Hats are a sure-fire way to boost your confidence. A cool hat can quickly become your signature piece and give you extra swagger. Emily Post is quoted as saying, in 1959, “It is impossible for a hatless woman to be chic.” Hats are both stylish and functional. They keep your head warm, distract from a bad hair day, and can shade your eyes from the sun. Hats can give you a touch of class and sophistication, impart personality and add an interesting and unique access to your outfits.

In adopting the hat as your signature piece, you must also accept the responsibility of hat etiquette. Often ignored, hat etiquette will show that your uniqueness extends not only to your choice of headwear, but your manners as well.

For men, remember the following:

First, promptly remove your hat upon entering an elevator, restaurant or someone’s home. And never wear your had during a meal. Also, when greeting a friend, touch the brim of your hat lightly. When meeting a female in public raise the hat by the crown. During the national anthem, remove your hate and place it over your heart.

In Post's "Etiquette: The Blue Book of Social Usage" from 1959, she wrote that men tip or lift their hat only to strangers, not to friends, although a man would lift the hat if he encountered his wife. A hat also is tipped to a woman when passing in a narrow space or when the man speaks to her. If a man runs into a female acquaintance, he must take his hat off when talking to her, but can put it back on if they start walking.

Ladies, however, keep their hats on indoors, everywhere except their own houses. If it's a formal hat, even during the National Anthem, a woman would not remove her hat. What if the woman and man are both wearing baseball caps? Does it make sense that only the man takes off his headgear during the National Anthem? Probably not, Miss Manners suggests. Without the traditional ladies' hat, she wrote, "you cannot claim the ladies' exemption."

Miss Manners recognizes that some rules vary peculiarly. It is acceptable for Christian women to wear hats in church, but disrespectful for men to wear them. Not so with Conservative or Orthodox Jews, who would find it disrespectful for men not to cover their heads with a yarmulke when in a synagogue.

Hat etiquette is neither confusing nor irritating. Simple consideration for others and respect for all is expected at all times. Hats are another reason to observe proper etiquette. So when deciding to wear a hat to compliment an outfit or distract from a bad hair day, wear it with pride and respect those around you.

If RSVP is written on an invitation, it means the invited guest must tell the host/hostess whether or not they plan to attend the event. It does not mean to respond only if you're coming, and it does not mean respond only if you're not coming (the expression "regrets only" is reserved for that instance). It means the host/hostess needs a definite head count for the planned event, and needs it by the date specified on the invitation.

Why it's inconsiderate to not RSVP: An incomplete list of respondents can cause numerous problems for a host/hostess, including difficulty in planing food quantities, issues relating to minimum guarantees with catering halls, uncertainty over the number of party favors and difficulties in planning appropriate seating, among other things.

So the next time you see RSVP on an invitation you receive, please call your host/hostess and respond promptly.