Connecting the Generations Through Hair Gel
Wednesday May 14, 2008
An elderly client of mine has recently been diagnosed with terminal cancer. While she is doing ok, she is unable to get up and about like she used to for her weekly appointments to the salon. I spent an hour or so at her home today, so she could get her hair washed and styled, as she was so accustomed.
While I washed and curled her hair, I was able to see a lot more into Margaret's life, that I was unable to see in the salon. She and her husband were such gracious hosts and I can honestly say I enjoyed every moment of chatting and laughing with them. They seemed to enjoy telling stories about their life, and it felt good to help Margaret feel "glamorous" (as she likes to say) even though she was unable to make it into the salon.
I learned an important lesson about the importance of beauty today. While Margaret's need for having her hair done had little to do with vanity, I learned that even in the darkest hours, feeling a little glamorous on the outside, helps a person feel a much brighter on the inside. I'm glad I could give a little ray of light to Margaret today, and pray that her health stabilizes.
While I washed and curled her hair, I was able to see a lot more into Margaret's life, that I was unable to see in the salon. She and her husband were such gracious hosts and I can honestly say I enjoyed every moment of chatting and laughing with them. They seemed to enjoy telling stories about their life, and it felt good to help Margaret feel "glamorous" (as she likes to say) even though she was unable to make it into the salon.
I learned an important lesson about the importance of beauty today. While Margaret's need for having her hair done had little to do with vanity, I learned that even in the darkest hours, feeling a little glamorous on the outside, helps a person feel a much brighter on the inside. I'm glad I could give a little ray of light to Margaret today, and pray that her health stabilizes.
Comments
This reminds me of when I was in beauty school. One of my regular clients came weekly with her adult daughter who had Downs syndrome (she lived with them). Her husband brought them every week, but wouldn’t set foot in the salon. (He was 79; men didn’t go into a salon) He’d smile, wave and then come back to pay the bill.
One day we noticed he looked a bit yellow and tired. After doing his wife’s hair and face weekly for so long, I felt it OK to go talk to him while she was under the dryer. He confessed he had terminal liver cancer. He was dying, and he had no idea how to make his family OK without him. (His wife wasn’t able to live alone when he was gone.) From that day on, he came into the salon when his two girls got dolled up. He joked, laughed and really enjoyed himself.
One day they never came back. I still wonder about them, 12 years later.
You are lucky to do what you do and be the kind of person you are. How blessed she is to have you in her home making her feel beautiful.
I’d babble on about how sweet it was of you to do this, but really - no one who knows you well would be the least bit surprised that you went and did this. Kudos, my dear! I am honored to call you my friend!
I really enjoyed reading that
Thank You
That’s really kind of you!!
That was very sweet of you to do that. It is that act of kindness that helps to restore my faith in mankind.
You are a very kind person, how very sweet of you to make a house call and brighten someone’s day.
Wonderful story!
You are an absolute Sweetheard miss Kendra. I bet you made her day but what YOU got out of it is invaluable.
I love reading your blog!!!
What a wonderful story. That was just so sweet of you!!
Great story..gramps STILL wants to know when is your book coming…We love you for caring…
That was so sweet!