Become an eccentric old lady

Well who wouldn’t want to be an eccentric old lady. And who said anything about cats, why not parrots or lizards lol. Yes, this is one I think I shall start now, because there is no time like the present.

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 sandles,
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 with my stick along 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 ago,
or only bread and pickles 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!

—Jenny Joseph

Lighthearted fun . . .Jenny Joseph was born in 1932 in Birmingham, England and was first published by John Lehmann in the 1950s. Her first book of poems, The Unlooked-for Season (Scorpion Press 1960) won her a Gregory Award and she won a Cholmondeley Award for her second collection, Rose in the Afternoon (Dent 1974). Two further collections followed from Secker, The Thinking Heart (1978) and Beyond Descartes (1983). Her Selected Poems (Bloodaxe 1992) contains poems from all these books.
“Warning, When I Am An Old Woman, I Shall Wear Purple” has become a global phenomenon! Elizabeth Lucas has published her calligraphic version of the poem nationally since 1984. This delightful poem that speaks of growing old in a wonderfully outrageous style was written in 1961 by Jenny Joseph who lives in Minchinhampton, England. The poem is popularly known by many titles including, of course, the actual title “Warning”, as well as by “When I Am An Old Woman”, “The Purple Poem”, “Old Woman”, “I Shall Wear Purple”, simply “Purple” and by other affectionate names. It is cherished by thousands of women throughout the world and practically everyone who enjoys its light humor wants to know more about its meaning and to learn about the author, Jenny Joseph.

...well, i have to say, if i became the “crazy old cat lady” it wouldn’t bother me one bit. i’m already an “old soul” so i’m probably a good bit of the way there! lol!

I saw this goal and just couldn’t pass it up.

Now let’s see if there is a goal about being an eccentric middle-aged lady . . .

I love them to pieces, I’d love to have 25 cats and be an eccentric old cat lady. Unfortunately I’m only allowed to be an eccentric old lady, because my BF is allergic to them (it’s a hard road finding the perfect man). No kitties for me :’(

I’ve started knitting, I knitted a huge purple fluffy scarf that almost reaches the floor when it’s been wrapped around my neck twice. I’m currently knitting a pink spiral scarf, then when I visit my parents for the uni holidays I’m going to get my mum to help me with knitting a cape (o0o0o) and learn to crochet!

This made me laugh. I’ve always wanted to become a cat lady. That sounds SO FUN!! The ironic thing is that I hate cats. But wouldn’t it be cool!!?