Red Hat Birthday Celebration

May is the birthday season for me.  It's also the birthday for our local chapter of Red Hatters, The Big D Re-Gals.  The chapter is Sweet Sixteen.  How fun.  As I'm sitting her noodling this post, I have come up with my own version of Ringo Starr's song You're Sixteen:  Cue the music -

You came on like a dream

Red, purple and bling

Shining like bright stars

You're sixteen, you're beautiful and you're ours

You're all glitter and hats

Giggles and chat

Lunches lasting for hours

You're sixteen, you're beautiful and you're ours.

You're our baby, you're our pet

We fell in love on the day we met

Cynthia started it all, we joined along

And now we are over twenty Re-Gals strong

You walked into our lives, full of surprise

Now our hats boxes tower

You're sixteen you're beautiful and you're ours. 

Well, now that I have out of my system, how about I share our birthday party with ya'll.  Sister "Spycee" is in charge and we are meeting at The Dinner Table.  I've never been and am looking forward to new fun.

Arriving, I find others waiting for the place to open.  It is almost 11:20 and the door says 11:00.  I can tell that Spycee is nervous, but we are soon through the door and helping her to get set up.  I do stop for a moment to take pictures since the place is empty.

We are aiming for that archway at the back which leads to another room.

There are balloons to set up and our Queen for the Day (Spycee) has a seating chart and gift for everyone so we help her to get those placed before the others arrive.  We finish just in time and perhaps now she can take a deep breath.  Everything looks great.

The head table with QFTD Spycee, Queen Cynthia, and Joan, who is celebrating a special birthday today.

The whole birthday thing comes with extra fun.  We get to wear reverse colors and that meant I had to shop for this event.  I found a great dress a few months back and just recently purchased my hat and shoes.  I am ready --- but forgot to take a picture before I left so this will have to do.

Now back to the party.  I just love seeing the ladies greet one another and get caught up.

Hmmm - Fonda seems to see me taking pictures.

Such real smiles.

These four lovely ladies came straight to lunch from a Susan G. Komen walk.  They are troopers indeed.

Ooooh, check out this hat.  It has a tutu.  Ooooh, I could do that.

Perfect.  Jean (Spycee), Queen Cynthia, and Joan

The pictures on the wall have Fonda, Billie, and Arlene up and taking trips down memory lane.  I love when they spot one they recognize.

The perfect attendance award goes to Arlene.  More bling.

And we have the special birthday celebration for Joan.  I started out trying to video it, but switched to pictures part way through.  Oh well, enjoy each part.

Cynthia announces that she has special gifts from the group for her and the shock is genuine.

New Royal Divas Too crisscross crown and her
patented pose.

Followed by a book of photo memories of her time with the Re-Gals.

I always say that the gifts that bring tears are the best ones.  Such is the case today.

 And, of course, let us not forget it is the chapter's birthday and that means we all get treats.  I was super good for my meal in anticipation of this.

The party starts to wind down with a resounding chorus of Happy Birthday on the kazoos.  Yes, I have learned how to play one but stopped to grab a couple of pictures too.  Happy birthday to all involved:  The Chapter, Spycee, Joan, June, Fonda, and yours truly.  (No, the post is not finished yet.)

As I mentioned above, today's queen has gifts for everyone and it's time to open them.  Oh how wonderful.  She is downsizing her pin collection and sharing with each person.  I love mine and a huge thank you to Jean.

A few group pictures to share -- the birthday girls.  We are obviously NOT looking at my camera.

And a group shot.  What a great event ladies and thank you, Spycee, for putting it together.  See ya'll next month.