Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Beauty Shop Bullies




For over fifty years, my mom has gone to the beauty shop for a weekly fix.  Most visits include a wash, blow dry, and endless teasing. Unfortunately, as her designated driver much of that teasing is aimed at me.

Recently, I picked her up a few minutes late, and we drove in complete silence. Finally, I told her that a friend called who was falling asleep at the wheel during a long drive. She asked me to keep her company on the phone to prevent her from dozing off. Thus, I ended up leaving ten minutes later relieved to know that my friend made it home safely. I felt satisfied that I would be off the hook until my mom replied, "That's not a good enough reason."

After I helped my mom in with her walker, and replaced her coat with a smock the manicurist gave me the evil eye and said to my mom, "Why didn't you take the bus? You're never late when you come on the senior bus."

Then I noticed one of the "regulars" from across the room. Our friend "Vivian" is a very nice woman in her mid eighties who looks great, and is incredibly sharp. Vivian always has cute photos of her great grandchildren with her, so I thought I would share some pictures of my sons. I could hear the spaghetti western music playing, as we were getting ready to draw our cell phones. Vivian pulled first, and showed me beautiful clear photos on her iPhone, while we had to use a magnifying glass to see the images on my no-frills flip phone. Vivian laughed, and told me that I should get a better phone. She checked her emails, and continued to giggle, as she awaited her hair stylist.

Three hours later, when I was immersed in enough secondhand hairspray to kill a horse, my mom announced she was ready to leave.  While I was helping her with her coat, she saw that a button was loose, and asked her hair stylist if she had a needle and thread. Not only did she find one, but she proceeded to sew the button on my mom's coat, while she was wearing it. If I had the power to knight this saintly woman who is quite a dame I would.

After forty five minutes of saying goodbyes, Vivian came over to apologize for her remarks
about my phone, and all was forgiven. No nails were chipped, no hairs were blown, and Mom made it back home safe and sound: mission accomplished.

36 comments:

  1. Wow, sounds like a lot of passive aggression for such a limited space.

    Good on you for getting through it with some grace. :-)

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  2. Enjoyed the read, I have a very good hairdresser but find it uncomfortable having my hair washed as it involves leaning my head backwards and having a neck, shoulder and arm pain which I have shots for and treatment at the hospital find it torture having my hair done, the alternative is washing it myself but then I can't reach my arms to my head to style it. Thinking of having a complete head shave
    lol.
    Yvonne.

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  3. Mean girls only get meaner with age lol.

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  4. I don't think I would've made it three hours in that environment.

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  5. Mums are so special though. Give her a happy Pesach hug from me.

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  6. Sounds like a very intense atmosphere! I'm intimidated by ladies' hairdressers in general...

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  7. three hours in a beauty shop! How can you do that? I've always wondered. :)

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  8. I think my mom would be taking the senior bus next time. :P

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  9. I think this is the first time I'm happy my mom's losing hair!

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  10. There's nothing wrong with the bus:) There's a beauty school near my house and all of these older women go there to have their hair shampooed and styled. A lot of them still get their hair permed, which I think is about the worst smell in the world.

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  11. Misha - This was just one example of an intense afternoon. Thanks Misha!

    Yvonne - I'm sorry that you're still in so much pain. Some salons have special sinks that are less stressful on your neck and shoulders. I would ask your doctor or physical therapist if he or she could recommend a place like that for you.

    Delores - My mom's hairdresser is a saint, and even helped me pack up a lot of her clothes when she was moving. She's closer to my age though, but I don't think she'll ever turn into a mean girl.

    Alex - You would have dashed out after forty five minutes for an emergency meeting with your clones and minions!

    Rosalind - I will gladly do that. Thanks Rosalind!

    Lynn - Thank you, and I'm sure you've done lots of nice things for your mom too.

    Nick - The hairdressers are all very patient and friendly. I would think that it would be very difficult dealing with older clientele.

    Al - I try to take little breaks especially when the weather is nice.

    LG - She still takes it with her caregiver when I can't go with her, and they usually have the whole bus to themselves.

    Jen - I hope it's just thinning out a bit.

    Deathwriter - I'm sure they love the rates at the beauty school, and the students are happy to have clients to work on. You're right about perms.

    Julie

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  12. A beauty parlor can do crazy things when there are elderly ladies who have to have the whole hair-do thing. The hood-dryers and the hair-spray are deadly. God bless those hairdressers.

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  13. I love the stylist who cuts my hair but I hate going to salons more than anything. I just hate the environment and always can't wait to be done and get out. Three hours in this sounds like total hell to me! I think you are the one who should be knighted, Julie. :)

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  14. Do bullies ever really change?
    In general, people mellow out the older they get... or is that a misconception on my part...?

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  15. These regular visits to a beauty shop are a treat every woman deserves. But I can't imagine a bully at that age. a grumpy old person, yes.

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  16. Susan - The hood dryers aren't as popular anymore, though they do use them occasionally. So true about the hairdressers.

    Julie - It's an outing! Thanks so much Julie!

    Michelle - Have you heard about surgery to eliminate clammy hands? Though the sweat is surgically removed from your hands, the perspiration still has to come out somewhere else on your body. You may not see it immediately, but it will reappear when you least expect it.

    Adriana - Grumpy starts with "G," so bully was the word for today. Believe me there are still bullies at any age who are ready to verbally attack with a smile.

    Julie

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  17. It seems that it doesn't matter how old one gets parents and their friends always regard their youngsters as kids. They just never figure out that we have been able to manage our lives while we all have grown older. And some of them just like to say whatever it is that they think.

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  18. You really have to watch out for those tech savvy oldsters
    @ the Beauty shop. :-) It seems to me that the young kids and the elderly have better gadgets.

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  19. Yvonne - They do say the "darndest" things!

    gma - It's either one extreme or another. Very funny gma!

    Julie

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  20. I would have found three hours in the place torture. I guess it's a good job I now shave my head. Saves me the pain.

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  21. My father has already informed us that he will be a royal pain in the butt when he gets old. He's already pretty difficult now, so I am expecting the worst.

    Dropping by from A to Z. This is my first year participating.

    Brett Minor
    Transformed Nonconformist

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  22. Its very sweet that you take your mom to the salon.

    Hugs and chocolate,
    Shelly

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  23. this is wonderfully written. I could smell the Aqua Net! My grandmother went to have her hair 'fixed' every week until she was 101. But that's Texas.

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  24. This post has such a great voice, and so much atmosphere. Thanks once again for sharing.

    Damyanti @Daily(w)rite
    Co-host, A to Z Challenge 2013

    Twitter: @AprilA2Z
    #atozchallenge

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  25. I love the two entries I've read so far and look forward to returning. You're writing about "third age" culture with warmth and gentle humor, and not only helping to make the journey fun but also preparing the next generation (mine, ours!) to navigate it with courage and grace. Thank you!

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  26. Nancy - I don't think I'll ever forget it. Thanks Nancy!

    Pete - You wear it well. Three hours fly by when you're having fun.

    Brett - Welcome to the challenge. I think it's good that your dad is giving you fair warning. Most people won't admit when they're being difficult.

    Shelly - It would be nice if you lived closer, so you could style our hair. Thanks Shelly!

    Mary - I love that your grandma went to the salon when she was 101! She must have been quite a lovely lady. Thanks for following me, and I'll be over soon.

    Damyanti - Thanks for the kind words. You deserve so much credit for visiting so many blogs.

    Josna - Thanks for taking the time to read both of my stories. I can't tell you how much I appreciate your wonderful comment. I look forward to getting to know you better.

    Julie




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  27. I enjoyed reading your blog. The oldies are more meticulous with their looks because they dont want to look ugly thats whay most of them go to the helse shop to make their selves more presentable and look young.

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  28. Three hours every week. wow, I would never have the patience - I am not even talking about you, but rather your mom.

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  29. Three hours! You must have patience by the bucket-load!

    (Grover at Inane Ramblings)

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  30. Anot - It's true that many of them do try to look their best at any age. Thanks Anot!

    Rhonda - Sometimes it's a little longer or a little shorter depending on services rendered. My mom doesn't seem to mind, as long she's back in time for dinner.

    Grover - I wish I was more patient, and my mom will be the first to agree with me. Thanks Grover!

    Julie

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  31. This is the stuff of sitcoms, and dramas, and who-done-its. Just a slice of life, isn't it? :)

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  32. Julie, you sound like a very tolerant person. A virtual bouquet of tulips for you for not lashing back at anyone as I might've done.

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