Steel Magnolias Pt 2

It was karma. Unscripted, unedited, and utterly therapeutic. This morning's entertainment was a one of a kind , truly unique experience that most likely occurred because the planets lined up in some far out way. My hairdresser of 35+ years has also been my mom's 'wizard of choice' from the time that she began to visit me from out of state. It was often a source of amusement that her 300 mile trip to NY was for a perm...and, oh yeah..a visit to her daughter.

A surprise phone call offered up a hair appointment cancellation to give Flo her perm on Saturday at 10:45. The good people who bump her wheelchair up the 9 stairs to the second floor could be there...and St Nic was available to help transfer Mom from wheelchair to shampoo chair ..life was good. The weather was very cooperative. Also, I knew that my good friend [of 30 years] Cathy had an appointment for a color at 11:00. Things come in threes: Then the 10:00 appointment cancelled, and I was able to take it instead of my next Thursday time! We were the only people in the shop. The owner of the business had come to America from Italy aboard the AndreaDoria Ship when she was sixteen years old. She has worked since then, and owns the scissors [as well as the shop] that coifs the hair of many, many faithful customers.

She started with Flo, and while the perm was underway, she started my color. Then Cathy got there, and we were a rotation of three customers playing 'musical chairs' and laughing as the entertainment came from reminiscing about stories of longtime friends.

When the radio played the song, 'Let There Be Peace On Earth', I shared the story about making a tape of Mom's favorite songs. While taping this song, Cathy played the flute, and it was beautiful. I decided to add a personal touch and sang the words in the second verse. When the next to last line rose to a note that was out of my range, and I went for it anyway....and everything stopped except for the hysterical laughter that followed which remains indescribable.

The topic changed to Christmas trees, and the #1 story immediately surfaced. Cathy and I taught together, and as life played out, I became a single mom of one boy and she of her three boys. The kids were 10, 9, 6, and 3 and they all became brothers, friends, and family. We piled into the van in the pursuit of cutting down a Christmas tree while putting forth our best festive effort. As we entered the tree farm, on the very perimeter of the acres of trees, the three year old immediately embraced the first tree which can best be described as 'The Charlie Brown Christmas Tree'. It had about three branches and was the same height as this excited little three year old. This was the tree!! He cried and threw himself on the ground when the boys suggested that we continue to look at other trees. A favorable plan was hatched which allowed us to continue. It was a priceless moment that is told as often as The Charlie Brown Story.

Two hours flew by as our hair got shorter and our laugh lines got longer. It was the definition of a good time. Relaxing and fun.

You couldn't plan something like that as it was many years in the making.

We had all came from different places with an age span that ranged from age 27 to 99 years old. It was great!