I didn’t count, but a lot of people wore purple in Bowmanville, Ontario last Tuesday!
I was one of them. I found a partly-purple scarf and a decades-old, no-longer-stylish jacket in my closet for a massive book-signing event, held in honour of Myrtle the Purple Turtle.
Staff, volunteers and members of the BOAA (Bowmanville Older Adults Association), were in fine form.
Then Dolly (below) showed up in her purple wig and had me beat.
There were purple scarves, purple coats, purple shirts and sweaters, purple earrings, purple everything! And so many different shades of purple.
But I can tell you that everyone wore a smile. BOAA is that kind of place. You show up and you’re immediately made welcome.
Grandparents, great aunts and uncles, great-grands and others from the community showed up to get their copies signed for the children in their lives. (And a few bought the book just for themselves.)
Many were BOAA members; some had read about the event in the regional newspaper.
There was turtle jewellry.
Executive director Angie Darlison set the tone, appearing as a purple turtle, complete with shell!
She also shared some turtle jokes.
- What do turtles use to communicate? A shell phone!
- What do you get when you cross a turtle and a porcupine? A slow-poke!
The couple above, by the way, are Benny, the creator of the BOAA Christmas Village, and his wife Agnes. It was a pleasure to meet them.
Thanks again, BOAA! It was turtally wonderful.
~~
Photos by Chelsea Wolf.
Cynthia Reyes 
Wish I’d been there! I will change into purple today in honour. I love Myrtle! 💜
Thank you for this lovely reply!
There is nothing better than purple! Fun post!
It’s such an interesting and different colour, isn’t it? (And there are all its various shades…)
Yes. And I’m told people who love purple are passionate.
This is great! Congratulations. I’m happy it’s going so well. 🙂
Lovely to hear from you, Susan! Thanks for visiting and commenting. Hope you’re doing well.
All is well, and I’m thrilled with your successful book! 🙂
Congrats on the purple wave Cynthia. It looks like a fun event. Long live Myrtle, love, and purple power. 🙂
Purple Power! Yes.
Thank you, Brad.
You’re welcome!
Congratulations on your Purple Wave Cynthia, this is so great and brings much more positive vision in our daily adventure!!
Mihran, thanks always for your encouraging responses. I appreciate them.
What a great idea and event – Well done, Cynthia – BTW – Don’t forget that purple is traditionally a Royal colour – Kings, Queens, Popes, Cardinals and even Roman Emperors all wear/wore it to signify their importance 👍😃
Thanks, Chris. Good point.
It didn’t occur to me that our little Myrtle was royal!
👍❤️
What a phenomenal turnout! The signing looks like a great success and how fun so many wore purple!
It really was phenomenal, Tina. It knocked me off my feet. (But not literally, thank God.)
How wonderful!
You should have gotten a wig like Dolly wore, Cynthia. You look great in purple!
Now you tell me, Kiddo! (haha) She wore it with such a radiant smile, didn’t she?
So fantastic! Such wonderful support of your work! Lovely to see.
Thanks, Sheryl. It is astonishing to see people turn out in such numbers for a little book, but the staff and members (who are also volunteers) are one of the most remarkable set of people I’ve ever met.
Love it and the color. Will definitely paint my hair if you are anywhere nearby.
Ah, how about you paint it anyway? Send the photo and some of your fave posts and let’s do a guest blog about your love of flowers and floral designs on my blog!
Oh, I have purple flowers and turtles but no purple turtles!
But hey: Ya gotta use some purple flowers in at least one of the floral arrangements! (OK, just kidding, Kiddo.)
Did you know there are purple wave petunias?
Aha. I’d forgotten that, but I’m sure I’ve seen them.
I love purple wave petunias – I must see if I can find some, it is the right time of year for them here.
Let me know if you do!
This is wonderful, dear Cynthia. I love the purple and turtle attire, jokes, and jewelry.
Blessings ~ Wendy
I thought you would! Thank you, Wendy.
LOL for turtly wonderful!! How terrific that everyone got into the spirit – this post really made me smile!
I’m glad it made you smile, Tina. I was smiling all that day!
May the Purple Wave continue! I love seeing all the support for Myrtle, and for you! 💜
Everyone can wear purple if they wear it with a smile!
How wonderful that so many people turned up in support of your book, especially those who had worn purple in honour of the occasion.
It was wonderful indeed, Clare. Overwhelming too, in the nicest way.
What fun!!! I wish I could have been there. Maybe in spirit. 😉
You would have enjoyed it! And I’m sure you were there in spirit.
It looks as if you felt right at home there. I love purple, so I’m sure I would have found something appropriate to wear. I’m pleased to see it went so well and I love all the turtle jewelry (one of my friends collects it so I’ll have to try and see what I can find). Congratulations, Cynthia!
What a wonderful occasion. It was more than a purple wave; it was a sea of purple! Myrtle would be amazed at how many people are her friends. I love the turtle jewellery.
All that purple is smashing, and it looks as though the entire event was smashing as well. Bravo!
I had no idea there were so many shades of purple, or so much purple clothing in the world! (smile)
What a supportive group with all that purple and turtles. Are you going to any schools? I know my kids loved to meet authors and we have a stack of signed books.
Good to hear from you. Yes, Lauren and I are visiting a school this week, in fact. I am a bit intimidated – my audience is usually adult!
I’m the opposite as I prefer 5 year olds to adults. Be ready for lots of wiggling.
OK. Thank you!
What a brilliant, wonderful, happy event. I hope someone turned up in green just to be different!
Yup, that would be me…. I think someone wore red and another wore black. They didn’t realize it was a purple occasion and I was just happy to see them!
How wonderful Cynthia! I love all the purple. 💕
So many Myrtles in the world! I imagine that each has a purple story to recall. -Oscar
I bet! You live that long, you have many adventures and misadventures.
What brilliant support Cynthia, all that purple must have been dazzling!
I love that everyone came out in purple – what a show of support! I think Myrtle would be quite impressed. Now if Myrtle, being purple, would blush at all the attention, what color would she blush in?
Now there’s a question! Pink? Blue? Red?
Purple, is the in color for 2018, apparently!