Mom was never a fan of hair salons. But she did love it when my sister, Nel, would wash, trim and roll her hair in those godawful rollers stuffed with tissue.
I never hung around for this most sacred of rituals … THE HOME PERM.
One … home perms stink to high heaven.
Two … repeat one!
Three … I never thought about escaping to another room in the house.
Four … I was too busy running for the front door … I was headed for the far side of town and praying the wind was blowing the against me.
Five … rinse and repeat one through four.
How can anything that smells that bad, and looks like it is holding your hair hostage, be good for you?
Fast forward to now, when mom’s Band of Caregiver Angels give her a perm. It is amazing! These angelic perms magically transport mom right back to those bygone days when Nel was in total control of her hair and happiness. Using curlers vs. a magic wand (which I call “joy sticks” … aka “stinky joy sticks”) the Band of Angels transform a regular day into a joyful one.
There’s no disputing that ear-to-ear smile. Mom is one happy dudette!
I love it when mom is happy. There is no pretense. There are no filters. There is just an unabashed feeling of joy that comes over her … and it is contagious for all of us who have the privilege of witnessing this magic moment.
Girls and their curls. I don’t get it. But, when all is said and done, I don’t have to get it.
It is, and will always remain one of life’s big mysteries.
All I have to do is immerse myself in the beauty of the moment … one of those moments I will cherish forever.
My 91 Year Old Mom 