It’s been 27 years since first Red Hats started in Columbia Falls. Ladies are still enjoying meeting, eating and fellowship.

Grace Marie Elliott started the first Red Hat local group in 1986. Grace and Roger had been in Arizona and she joined Red Hats  there.

First Columbia Falls session was held in the small private dining room in the Pines Cafe. Goals established at that meeting have prevailed through the years. They include no fancy name, no dues, no national affiliation, no officers, no agendas, no minutes, no projects. It is a relaxing change from volunteering in other community organizations.

Meetings are second Mondays, 11:30 a.m., at a different cafe each month. They attempt to visit a new cafe when possible and enjoy patronizing long established businesses. Red headgear ranges from beautiful hats which would have been in style 100 years ago to baseball caps. 

Red Hat members are Marion Adams, Marion Andrew, Shirley Ann Barnes, Sheila Byron, Loretta Drake, Marion Fisher, Maggie Hays, Juanita Lind, Lori Luce, Shirley McCallum,  Janet McConville, Mamie Parpart, Joyce Siems, Sharon White, Norma Williams and me.

Eagle Transit bus provided my rides to and from Red Hats at the Fam-Damily Cafe in March. It is my new way of life as I am not driving.

Can certainly recommend Eagle Transit bus. Gregg is a capable, friendly driver maintaining a good schedule. I also appreciate friends and family members who drive me when Eagle Transit is unavailable. 

Was a member of Council on Aging when transit system was first developed in Flathead County. This later became Agency on Aging. Deanne Thielman was an excellent director in those years. Never dreamt was planning for a personal transportation future.

My self-imposed no driving rule started a month ago, a year after dry macular degeneration diagnosis. I could not read my favorite Andy Capp cartoon one morning. It was then I decided I had no business sitting behind a steering wheel if could not see to read my favorite cartoon.

Started driving when I was 16 years old and now was afraid to ride with me. There were 17,000 miles on the 1994 Plymouth Sundance when I bought it in December 1994. There are 136,000 miles now.

My only traffic citation was for speeding in Kalispell when I was taking a carload of older women back to Columbia Falls about midnight from a Rebekah Lodge meeting. I can still hear the KPD siren. I thought it was a fire. Judge Henry Lokensgard fined me $10 for speeding. 

My decision to quit driving brought grateful sighs from family members, although they had been discreetly silent. They asked me to tell them when I wanted something. I  suggested my two desires — a World War II Jeep or a Hummer. With a chauffeur.

Gladys Shay is a longtime resident and columnist for the Hungry Horse News.