Thursday, July 7, 2022

Hues and Cues

Anyone ever played Hues and Cues Board game? It's a word, color association guessing game. It reminds me of the title of my blog. So many hues of red and so many word connotations to what 'red' can mean.

That got me thinking, what do the few readers of my blog think 'Reds Rave' means. It seems so clear but I think there needs some clarification.

Story Time

One fine, hot Texas day, when the Brown family was freshly moved into their home, Chandra ventured out to the local HEB. She strolled the beauty aisle and picked up a box of color, she read the directions and put it in the cart. 'This would be a piece of cake but don't ever tell Johnna', she thought. She would lecture me for sure, but what's a gal in a pinch to do? A whole new city with new people and places to explore, a new way of life; a gal just doesn't have time to worry about her hair when trying to setup house. The mirror was quite revealing that the root of the problem needed addressing and this was the solution.

I applied and waited and rinsed and washed and dried...and then I saw RED. 

Ahh, I thought, when Johnna was in beauty school I was her part time mannequin and had almost every color and cut done to my head for practice. This little color correction will eventually fade and I'll get the professional help I need eventually, when there's more time. In the meantime, I'll just wear it with gusto.

I took Alex on a stroll in the neighborhood and Lee our neighbor who lives kitty corner from our house was outside tending to his yard. He saw me coming from a mile away, you can't blame him for squinting and putting his hand on his brow to cover his eyes. My blazing red hair was on fire in the Texas sun. He waved as I walked by and said, "I thought you were blonde when you first moved in?" 

I told him I was. Maybe he thought I was making a statement with my hair. Who is this new neighbor from Colorado? He smiled mischievously, as I finished my outing and went back inside.

The next day, I took a stroll again and as I was passing, he waved and called out, "Hey RED, how's it going?" 

And that is how I got the nickname 'Red'. It isn't used anymore, but it reminds me of my youth and how I didn't care too much of what others thought of me and my appearance. It is what it is! It grew out and many colors later, I'm still trying to figure out what to do with my mane.

And that my friends is the rest of the story (Paul Harvey, radio voice please).



'Red' Meanings

Red can mean hot blooded and quick tempered. My natural disposition is quit docile, but like any creature if provoked the 'red' can make it's surface. 

Red can mean communist. This certainly does not define this American. The only reason I am here is my great-great grandfather, Mr. Bloch, fled the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia. Our entire family on that side was wiped out in that nasty time period, except him. I am so grateful he fled that evil rule and found freedom in America so he could have a family and I can write about it.

Red can mean bold. Yes, I can be bold at times, like writing my thoughts on this blog. I usually don't share that much about myself and keep under the radar. 

Red can mean vibrant and full of life. Yes, I LOVE life and all it's offerings. I am curious and like trying many things. Dancing is one of them.

Red can associate with love. I do love intensely and I love my family and my Lord. 

Red, it's a great color!