For 22 years, Marny Wills has taught children how to survive the water. But lately she has been helping hundreds of women find a way to survive getting older.
By celebrating it!
About a year ago Wills,who is 52, organized a chapter of the National Red Hat Society in Mandarin. The society, which has 12 chapters in Jacksonville,was inspired by the poem "Warning",which begins:"When I am old, I shall wear purple.......With a red hat that doesn't suit me......"
The poem, by Jenny Joseph, has become an anthem for women over 50; women striving to soak in the freedom, rather than lament societal-imposed shackles,that being of a certain age often evokes. Wills wants more women to feel that freedon.
"I have no problem telling anyone my age, because I think it's great," says Wills,whose chapter is called The La Tea Da's.
"When you get to be 50, some kind of magic happens. ......We're embracing life more...the things that really matter. We're old enough so that we no longer have to care about whether our outfits are matching."
To Wills' surprise, 22 women showed up for the first luncheon of the La Tea Da's in March 2001. Throughtout the year, the women embarked on outings such as lunches at the Orange Park Kennel Club and The World Golf Village. Now, The La Tea Da's also have more than 100 members throughout the city.
"This is a dream come true for me. I had no clue as to how this would grow" said Wills, whose e-mail address for those interested in donning a red hat,is marny@fair.net.
"There are no rules or dues. All you have to do is RSVP, and wear your red hat and purple outfit."
But working to help others seek their adventurous side isn't new to Wills. The Englewood High graduate,who earned the "senior class superlative of wittiest", said she has always been willing to step outside her comfort zone.
This partly explains why Wills,in addition to rearing two children of her own,spends her summers teaching 300 children how to swim; Or why she volunteers at St Mary's Espiscopal Church in historic Springfield.
But now, her two-children are grown, and her mother lives with her and her husband. The arrangements kind of heralded Wills' middle age, so she looked for a way to make it fun.

She found it in the flip of a red hat-and in the fellowship of other women looking to use their age as a reason to "paint the town red"....AND purple. Women looking to defy expectations and embrace adventure.